QUESTIONS EVERY PATIENT SHOULD ASK THEIR DOCTOR

Every patient should seek to understand their treatment plan, understand their doctor's perspective and try to learn from past mistakes and from what they don't know...

Whether its for an acute illness or yet undiagnosed chronic condition or the daily maintenance of a existing medical condition a lot of information doesn't make it to the table of conversation between doctor and patient. Mostly, in a traditional practice its due to lack of time as the typical visit only averages 7 minutes. However, patients need to make it a priority to ask questions - here is a list of a few to ask on a regular basis...

EHC is here to help! Call to book your appointment today!

Disclaimer: Before undertaking any dietary or lifestyle changes, please consult with your physician for appropriateness and additional guidance. The information here is just that...information for educational purposes only, not to provide medical advice or treatment...

Questions to Ask Your Doctor

1. What can I do to help with my chronic condition that will make a difference? What actions or mindset are most helpful..

Few patients understand the power of positivity with a new diagnosis or setback, asking questions about approach to a difficult situation can be extremely helpful and in fact is the one thing that makes a positive outcome more likely.

Your physician will educate you on why you have a condition, ramifications and the treatment plan they want to lay out and why you should follow that plan.

But often understanding what your role is allows the plan to become yours and you can better reach agreement on your care plan and as such increase your likelihood of a better outcome.

EHC does this well, as we provide education and empowerment through helping you restore your power that disease/illness takes from you.

2. Does this condition require monitoring? How often and what tests are important?

Most acute (cold, stubbed toe, etc) and chronic conditions (high blood pressure or diabetes, etc) require follow-up - it just varies on how much or how little.

Typically, a patient's background and education is taken into account as well as co-morbidities (other medical conditions that can make outcomes more likely to result in complications)

Part of your treatment plan should include follow-up and in particular any monitoring that is needed with details on how often and what that monitoring entails, such as labs, imaging or just in person visits.

3. What are the red flags I should look for as complications for this condition?

Too many times we leave this to simply reading that discharge or end of the visit paperwork handed to us by a helpful nurse or medical assistant.

How often do we review that?

You should always strive to understand what to expect regarding potential complications, adverse outcomes either from medications or the condition itself. This is vital, as this will give you an idea when to come back for a visit and when to seek emergency help.

Often, if you can catch a declining health issue sooner or a rare reaction to a medication it could be life saving. Take notes during your visit.

4. What are the side effects of the medication? When should I see improvement?

It is vital to know the side effects of your medications as adverse reactions or poor response are the most common reason patients discontinue use of a medication - typically, without the advice from the doctor.

It is more often that a patient will come in for follow-up and detail to the doctor that they have discontinued the medication, which can offset the plan of care and put a patient behind on agreed goals and expectations.

Disclaimer: Before undertaking any dietary or lifestyle changes, please consult with your physician for appropriateness and additional guidance. The information here is just that...information for educational purposes only, not to provide medical advice or treatment..