How to get the best out of your Doctor’s visit – The Dos and Don’ts

Feb 18, 2024 Dr Zulfikar Bux, Features / Columnists, News

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Dr. Zulfikar Bux
Assistant Professor of Emergency Medicine

Kaieteur News – The average doctor’s appointment lasts 10 minutes. Lots of people are aware of this fact; but have you ever actually stopped to think how long that actually is? The answer is, not long. If a doctor sees 20 patients during his/her shift, spending just two extra minutes with each person will cause an additional half an hour by the time the last person is ready to be seen. So, please try to remember this while your anxiety and temper may start to reach unbearable levels while you wait.

In a medical setting, time is always tight. In order that you get as much as possible out of this small time slot, there are a few things you can do to help things go as smoothly as possible. Today, I will discuss how you can get the best out of your doctor’s visit. Remember, I don’t mean to sound rude, but its best you know the facts so that you can get the best out of your visit.

Don’t take too long to get down to business

Don’t take too long to put your bags down and settle into your seat before you start speaking with the doctor. You are wasting valuable time that could be better spent discussing your problems. The same applies to discussing matters that are not relevant to your condition. The longer you take to get down to business, the longer the waiting time for every patient coming after you.

If possible, leave the kids at home

Inevitably, parents get distracted trying to keep their baby or child in order. This results in a tendency to not only waste time, but also stops you from being fully focused and engaged in the consultation. Children tend to run around and play with items in the office. This distracts you and the doctor from focusing on your condition.

Don’t bring a list

Please don’t come in brandishing a list of umpteen complaints that all needs to be sorted in one day. It is unrealistic to expect the doctor to deal with so many issues at one time. It’s not in your interest, apart from anything else – faced with a list of five problems (that’s less than two minutes each) the doctor will be forced to address each one superficially, rather than giving it the time it deserves.

Pick the most pressing problem and try working through that, rather than leaping between troubles and not addressing any of them properly. It’s also not fair on your fellow patients, who will inevitably end up waiting longer. If you do have lots of problems to discuss, speak with the doctor for a repeat visit.

Speak about your problem in a sequential manner.

If possible, try to tell your story from the beginning; for example: ‘It all began three months ago when I first had a pain in my side.’ You want to try to paint a picture for the doctor of your symptoms and the story that goes with it. Don’t try to get to what you may think is the cause of your issue; that is for the doctor to figure out. You need to describe a progressive sequence of your condition so that the doctor can put the pieces together more efficiently.

When giving timings, try to be accurate

When asked when your symptoms started, it’s best to try to be as specific as possible. Saying ‘a long time’, ‘it seems like forever’ or ‘not long at all’ are all really unhelpful because the meaning varies so much between patients. If possible, try to talk about durations in terms of hours, days, months or years; broad-bush timescales which everyone can understand. Again it just saves time if your story is as clear as possible from the outset.

Don’t be embarrassed

Your doctor will most likely not be shocked by what you tell them. They have been sworn to keep your matter confidential and they should. The more you open up about your problem the better the chance of the doctor figuring out your condition.

Be aware of how consultations usually work

Generally speaking, your consultation will follow this pattern:

1. You tell your story.
2. The doctor asks you specific questions based on your story.
3. The doctor may examine you.
4. The doctor will discuss what they think might be going on and suggest treatment options or plans.
5. You ask questions/discuss ‘the plan’.

Do not start with a test first! Doctors are trained to treat patients and not the test result!

Get the important issues out first

If there is something you are really worried about – for example a breast lump or crushing chest pain- please, please mention it first. Many people tend to talk about something relatively minor to start with as a kind of ‘warm-up’.

If the doctor doesn’t know that the real problem is coming up, they will spend your 10-minute appointment discussing things that are not relevant to help with your condition.

Should you quote google?

This is a bit of a tricky one and I suspect all doctors feel differently about the internet. You may take your doctor down the wrong path because of your reading. It’s best to follow the steps above and then speak about what you read in the end. Give the doctor a chance to do his/her thing before you change their direction with your reading.

Be kind

Yes! There are doctors out there who are unkind/unethical but despite what you might read in the press, the vast majority of doctors really are trying their best to help you. If you can muster up a smile or a thank you, it will make their day that bit better.

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• Don't bring a list, Don’t take too long to get down to business, If possible, leave the kids at home, Speak about your problem in a sequential manner., try to be accurate, When giving timings

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