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The first step to communicating effectively with doctors is finding one whom you feel you can develop a relationship. We all want to be listened to, respected and comforted after a visit to the doctor instead of feeling frustrated, confused and with questions left unanswered.

Most of my communication with doctors has been as a nurse, but in recent years I have had more contact with doctors as a patient. Here are some guidelines on how to effectively communicate with doctors gathered from my experience on both sides of the healthcare counter.

Find a doctor you want to go to:

Once you have gotten names of potential doctors from friends, hospital referral services or from searching the internet, you are ready to make the first determination of how communication with that doctor will go. The office staff will be the entry point on whether that doctor is likely to be someone you will develop a good repertoire with or not. A doctor's staff is a reflection of his practice. If they are uninterested, incomplete and unhelpful he likely will be also. Go to another choice.

Doctors who are in large group practices are often harried, rushed and forgetful of the particulars on each patient. Choose a smaller practice even if it means driving farther to find one. Offices that utilize nurses for specific roles (i.e. a lab nurse) are more organized and the nurse is often the one you will receive calls from first. Communicating well with the nurses may be just as important as your relationship with the doctor.

The actual appoint time:

In today's healthcare environment, time is short and doctor's memories are often even shorter. The moment the doctor walks in the room the meter is on so be succinct, clear and very pleasant with a written list of your top three concerns.

1. Do not make small talk until the end of your visit. Do not talk about everything that is wrong, talk about what brings you there THAT day. Practice the few sentences to summarize your situation before you go for your visit. I often write out my medical history and medication list for a doctor to peruse because it is shorter for him to read it then it is for me to tell it. The doctor can only take in so much in those 10-15 minutes anyway, so get the best bang for your buck by being focused.

2. Bringing someone else to help tell your story or to ask questions while you are formulating other thoughts can be very helpful. That person can assist in keeping your descriptions specific and on track which is sometimes hard to do if you are there alone for your appointment. Writing questions down on paper before your visit and bringing them with you will ensure you don't forget to ask the important questions you want answered.

3. Emphasize that you are looking for a plan, a path, not a solution if your problem is a chronic one. If it a short term problem, ask specifically how long you should wait to determine: if you need to come back, if the medication is working or what to do if the problem reoccurs.

4. Ask the doctor what the best way is to communicate with him in case you have more questions after you go home. Emailing or faxing questions sometimes avoids the staff incorrectly relaying what you want the doctor to answer and you then receiving incomplete answers to the questions you've asked. Call after you send/fax your message to make sure it was received and forwarded to the doctor to read.

Going to see a doctor is never something we plan or desire to do. Taking control of your visit will help provide answers to your concerns and give you a feeling that the doctor is receptive to your needs. Make the best of your appointment time with a solid communication plan written on paper.

Learn more about this author, Michele Blacksberg.
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