By Brenda Washington, LMSW, ACSW – Macro and Micro
My name is Brenda and I am a long-time volunteer with VeDA. My current position is on the Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Committee. After a recent meeting I decided to do research on how patients might feel more empowered in the medical setting, particularly in the doctor’s office.
When I worked as a medical social worker and psychotherapist I saw a lot and advocated many, many times on behalf of injustices. Even with my support, I found that patients and clients who had family and social support had better outcomes.
While I was doing research for this article, I experienced anxiety. Thoughts that came up for me included, “We never know if we’re ever getting the BEST treatment,” and “With routine follow-up appointments there’s a concern that something may be missed.” With chronic issues I can’t stress enough the importance of having support as you tackle the uncertainty of the medical system. Below you will find some tips that may help if you’re looking for a new physician or have concerns about the care you are currently receiving.
Hang in there and don’t give up!
Find the Best Healthcare Professional For You
- Gather your and your family’s health history.
- Find out as much as you can about your condition (e.g. on VeDA’s website).
- Make a list of what’s important to you in a doctor.
- Check online to make sure your doctor is licensed and has no disciplinary actions against them.
- Gather recommendations from those whose opinions you trust (e.g. other healthcare professionals, members of a support group).
- Set up meetings with healthcare professionals on your list to ask questions and collect information to get a feel for their philosophy, style and practice.
- Find a healthcare professional you feel like you can build a strong rapport with.
- Does our healthcare professional have an organized office?
- Does your healthcare professional see you in a timely fashion and for as long as it takes?
- Does your healthcare professional direct you to an appropriate specialist, if needed?
- Does your healthcare professional coordinate with everyone on your care team?
- Is your healthcare professional committed to your wellness objectives?
Get the Most Out of Your Office Visits
- Write down your questions for your healthcare professional before your visits.
- Ask your healthcare professional to further explain what you don’t understand.
- Ask your healthcare professional to write down what you think you may not recall.
- Speak up if you have an issue.
- Bring a support person with you to your office visit to take notes.
Signs It’s Time to Find a New Healthcare Professional
- You experience a preventable error (e.g. the wrong drug is prescribed).
- Your healthcare professional fails to report abnormal test results to you.
- You cannot get timely access to care.
- Their communication style is disrespectful and/or dismissive.
Other Tips:
- Have an organized and disciplined person to be your logistical and emotional support.
- Develop a support team. This may be one person or multiple people (e.g. emotional, logistical, clinical, and intellectual qualities are very helpful).
- When things don’t seem right, trust your instincts.
- Know that you can hire and fire your healthcare professional.