What can you do when you are frustrated by your doctor or your medical care (or the medicare care of a loved one)? It turns out, quite a lot.
There are many reasons why your doctor may frustrate you, and some of these issues can be addressed directly with the doctor or the office. For example, if you feel that they doctor is talking at you instead of to you, you can gently point this out. Make sure that you bring a list of questions or concerns with you to your appointments and don’t be afraid to speak up when you don’t understand something. Take the initiative to make sure that you are comfortable before you leave the office. If you are prescribed a medication, ask why and find out the side effects before you agree to take it. I was once prescribed a medication that was contraindicated for another medical issue I had. Had I taken the medication, I might have been in serious trouble.
Because of the current culture of health care and the requirements of insurance policies, many doctors have little time to see patients or to follow-up. Patient care often gets delegated to others, such as a nurse or assistant who can’t diagnose or prescribe, just give messages back and forth between you and your doctor. In such cases, it is important to be an advocate for your care. Call three times a day if necessary until you get the answers that you need.
Many doctor offices now give you online access to your medical records and your test results. This can often help you answers and information days ahead of the typical call from the office. The doctor often has to release the results to you, but at least you can get them early.
Finally, if you feel that you aren’t being given the care that you need, it is important to seek another doctor or office. You may even need to go through several doctors until you find one that is willing to work with you and provide you with excellent care.