Vitality - Fall 2013 - (Page 14)

Q+A: Health Literacy Get the Message Understand your doctor's instructions better-for your own peace of mind Physicians go through years of medical school to learn the science of the body and how it works (or doesn't). So it's no surprise that those of us without medical degrees might have trouble fully understanding exactly what our doctor is talking about sometimes. But it's important to ask about anything that seems unclear or complicated during a medical visit. Your good health depends on it. In order for your physician to address your concerns completely, it may require scheduling a separate visit at a later date. This will beneﬁt you and your health in the long run. 14| FA L L 2 0 1 3 Video What can I do to better understand my doctor? "The Ask Me 3 model is a good one for patients to use," says Kevin Presley, D.O., board certiﬁed in family medicine. It's fairly simple. Patients should ask their doctors three questions: * What is my main problem? * What do I need to do? * Why is it important for me to do this? Doing so will clarify exactly what needs to be done and why. "Doctors like to know that their patients understand what they need to do," Presley says. Won't asking lots of questions annoy my doctor? Not at all. Your doctor wants to help you and wants you to feel comfortable, Presley says. "In fact, doctors are often surprised, after asking their patients if they have any questions, when patients say 'no,' because even doctors have questions when they go to the doctor themselves," he says. Ask as many questions as you need to until you fully understand the situation. "In most cases, your doctor will respect you for it and will be glad to spend more time with you if [the doctor] thinks you are a patient who is truly interested in taking care of yourself," he says. WATCH THE QUESTIONS IN ACTION The National Patient Safety Foundation's video shows how the "Ask Me 3" model helps you better understand a medical visit. Go to citizensmemorial. com/vitality, and click "For Patients & Consumers." What else can I do to make sure I have the information I need? "It's reasonable to have a friend or family member accompany a patient to the doctor to provide a second set of ears for listening to the doctor's instructions," Presley says. "Doctors are ﬁne with this and respect patients for making sure they know what they need to do." In addition, patients can ask to have the doctor's instructions written down, either by the doctor or by a medical assistant, or your friend or family member can take notes. "Having a written set of instructions provides a double-check to be sure patients have a reminder of what they need to do," Presley says. -By Cheryl Alkon http://citizensmemorial.com/vitality http://citizensmemorial.com/vitality

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of Vitality - Fall 2013

Vitality - Fall 2013
Contents
Health Beat
Diabetes Survival Guide
A New Light
Road to Recovery
Heart Smart
Q + A

Vitality - Fall 2013