Tips for Talking With Your Health Care Providers
You and your health care providers are working toward the same goal - good health for you. Your doctors, nurses, and other health care providers can talk with you about your health and help you with any health problems that you may have. Here are a few tips to make the most of your time together.
Use clinic and hospital visits to learn how to best care for you. Good health depends on
you.
Be a partner in decisions about your health care. Talk with your doctors, nurses, and other health care providers. Plan your care with them.
When you make an appointment, find out if you need to have any tests before you see
your doctor, nurse, or other provider. You may learn more during your visit if your test
results are in your chart. In some cases, you may have to wait to eat or drink until after a test is done.
Prepare for your appointment. Think about the reason for your clinic visit. Write down what you want to tell your health care provider. Write down your questions. You may want to bring someone with you.
Be clear about your health problem and how you feel. Before your clinic visit, you may want to write down:
• How long you have had your health problem
• What you have done about it
• How your health problem has changed or stayed the same
• What makes it better or worse
Tell your health care providers what you have been doing about your health problem. If you have been treating yourself or changed the treatment suggested to you, talk with your doctor, nurse, or other provider about this. To best help you, your health care providers need to know how you are caring for you.
Listen carefully to what your doctor, nurse, or other provider tells you. If you don’t understand, ask questions. Ask your health care provider:
• What your health problem is
• What caused it
• What you should do about your health problem
• When it will improve
• If you need a follow-up visit
Make sure you know and agree with how your health care provider plans to help you.
• Repeat what you have heard to make sure you understand what was said.
• Make sure the instructions are right for you. If they aren't, let your doctor, nurse, or other provider know. Your health care provider may be able to change the plan to better meet your needs.
• Find out who to call for any questions you may have after you go home.
• Take your after visit summary sheet when you are done with a clinic visit. If you forget it, you can find it in MyChart.
Ask for more information if you need it. If you don’t understand something, ask your
doctor, nurse, or other provider to explain it. Take notes or ask for a written sheet if this would help you.
Spanish version of this Health Facts for You is 6629
The information provided should not be used during any medical emergency or for the diagnosis or treatment of any medical condition. A licensed physician should be consulted for diagnosis and treatment of any and all medical conditions. Call 911 for all medical emergencies. Any duplication or distribution of the information contained herein is strictly prohibited.
Last Updated: 03/28/2012
Copyright © 03/28/2012 University of Wisconsin Hospitals and Clinics Authority. All rights reserved. Produced by the Department of Nursing. HF#4377
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