Don’t Become a Number in the Doctor’s Office (Guest Post)

Have you gone to your doctor’s office lately and just felt like a number? More than likely, you are not alone if you answered yes.


While there are some physicians who go out of their way to take that extra time for their patients, others ship their patients in and out like they’re on an assembly line. As a result, patients feel like their concerns and questions are not properly dealt with, leaving them confused and questioning what the next step should be.


One of if not the main reason for doctors moving patients in and out quickly has to do with costs. As medical expenses continue to rise rather dramatically, many doctors find that they can’t afford to take too long with patients, meaning moving more of them in and out quickly can help contain costs. In the end, however, it is obviously the patient who emerges the loser.


For those individuals who have a personalized health care model, those like the ones offered by MDVIP, they can typically get better care at a more affordable price. Most importantly, they can receive better one on one service with their physician.


According to a number of reports, new doctors are often times labeled as those physicians who spend less and less time with their patients. While it is not fair to group all doctors into one category, it is safe to say that there are those physicians who seem to come and go in the blink of an eye when visiting with patients.


So, how can you be sure you get the most time available with your doctor during each and every visit?


Among the things to note:


* Be prepared – Do your best to come to your doctor’s office with any and all questions you have for him or her. Given the doctor’s time is limited, having a list with several questions on it can bring attention to what concerns you most. This is especially important when bringing children for a visit, as such visits can get distracting when the child is not happy to be there;


* Know your physician – Do you really know your physician? It is important to know their style, how they operate, and of course their temperament. Knowing these things will make the visit be a more productive one, giving you the best service for your dollar;


* Understand your medical history – Lastly, knowing your medical history certainly makes it easier to talk one on one with your physician. Those little aches and bruises in the past could be causing you more problems now. Additionally, issues your child had in the past may not have seemed out of the ordinary back then, but now they do. For those with kids, seeing changes in your child that are not common means discussing such matters with their doctor. In today’s Internet age, taking some time on the computer to research issues can also make your better equipped to discuss your medical history with your doctor.


While there are those doctors that can’t seem to find the time for you or your family, always remember that they are their to serve you, not the other way around.

Photo credit: latenighthealth.com