| "body"> | | | | give you a diagnosis, politely ask the doctor to |
| We're in a healthcare world run by the rules and | | | | allow you to tell the whole story. Inform the |
| reimbursement schedules of insurance companies. | | | | doctor that the information in the rest of the |
| The average office visit is meant to last between | | | | story will be beneficial to making a correct |
| eight and ten minutes. The scary thing is that | | | | diagnosis. Inform the doctor that by telling the |
| research on how doctor's think reveals that most | | | | entire story you will feel more secure in their |
| doctors make their diagnosis in the first twenty | | | | diagnosis. Inform the doctor that they owe you |
| to thirty seconds of your visit. The question I | | | | the courtesy of hearing your story. |
| hope you're asking is, "Does the doctor have all | | | | Politely Challenge the Diagnosis |
| the information they need to make a correct | | | | Every profession is trained to make decisions |
| diagnosis?" | | | | based on cumulative information. For doctors, this |
| The American public has been conditioned to allow | | | | information is obtained through school, internship, |
| the medical provider to orchestrate the office | | | | residency and then their daily routine. There are |
| visit. It's important to remember that you employ | | | | times when it's like the television show Batman, |
| the doctor. It doesn't matter who pays, you or | | | | the information is put in the bat computer and |
| the insurance company, the doctor is working for | | | | moments later a card pops up with the conclusion. |
| you. If you start your office visit working from | | | | It's perfectly fine to ask your doctor upon |
| this premise there are steps you can take to | | | | receiving a diagnosis..."what else might it be?" This |
| pace your office visit. | | | | question is not about being cynical, but it comes |
| Breathe | | | | from a stance of self-protection. If you ask the |
| Unfortunately when we feel stressed for time | | | | doctor this question it nudges the doctor to think |
| everything about us speeds up including our | | | | outside the box. It encourages or even facilitates |
| speech. Setting the pace of the visit can start by | | | | the doctor into considering other possibilities. When |
| taking a couple of deep breaths, in the doctor's | | | | we ask these questions, the doctor may come |
| presence, showing the doctor that you're trying | | | | up with the same conclusion, but they will have at |
| to slow down and be more conscious during your | | | | least ruled out a broader range of differential |
| time together. When you take a deep breath you | | | | diagnoses. |
| create space for the slow down to occur. You | | | | Setting the pace for your doctor visit will lower |
| give yourself permission to take the time you | | | | your stress level, allow you to develop a better |
| need to convey to the doctor your medical | | | | relationship with your provider, and potentially |
| concerns. | | | | avoid misdiagnosis. If you don't feel comfortable |
| Tell the Whole Story | | | | taking any of these steps then having a patient |
| Ever try and tell a story in twenty seconds? Is it | | | | advocate may be in your best interest. Find |
| even possible? If you feel rushed during your visit | | | | someone who will accompany you to your doctor |
| then put the brakes on and slow things down. If | | | | visit or work with someone who will instill the |
| you feel the doctor has interrupted your story to | | | | confidence in you to feel empowered as a patient. |