Partnering with our doctor--during your doctor appt #2

Today I continue talking about partnering with our doctor to get the best results.  During your appointment:

1.      Do you see the doctor and staff members wash their hands?  Do they wear gloves during the exam?  If not, ask that they wear gloves before giving shots, touching wounds, or examining your mouth or private areas. 

2.       If the doctor says you have such-and-such (a new diagnosis) or need new medicine, get information before you leave.  Ask your doctor about the diagnosis and if you don’t understand, tell him and ask questions until you understand.  Also many doctors have brochures which you can take home, read and gain understanding  about a new diagnosis. 

3.      If your doctor prescribes a new medicine, there’s information you will need: what does the medicine treat, what are the directions for taking the medicine (for example, three times a day or daily and also is it a liquid or a pill to be swallowed?) Will the new medicine cause a problem with other medicines you are taking?  What are the side effects you should report to him? There are financial considerations:  Is the new medicine available in generic and is the generic form as good?  One time my doctor told me he didn’t think the generic worked as well so he preferred that I take the brand name medicine.  Usually generic medicines are considered equal to brand name medicines.   

Next time we will consider another valuable resource that you can use to get reliable, reputable medical information.