Senior Health Connection Interrnountain Mckay Dee Hospital Center April 2009 Talking With Your Doctor: A Guild for Seniors How well you and your doctor talk to each other is one of the most important parts of getting good health care. Unfortunately, talking to your doctor isn't always easy. It takes time and effort on your part as well as your doctor's. In the past, the doctor typically took the lead and the patient followed. Today, a good patient doctor relationship is more of a partnership. You and your doctor can work as a team, along with nurses, physician assistants, pharmacists, and other health care providers, to solve your medical problems and keep you healthy. This means asking questions if the doctor's explanations or instructions are unclear, bringing up problems even if the doctor doesn't ask, and letting the doctor know if you have concerns about a particular treatment or change in your daily life. Taking an active role in your health care puts the responsibility for good communication on both you and your doctor. All of this is true at any age. But when you're older, it becomes even more important to talk often and comfortably with your doctor. That's partly because you may have more health conditions and treatments to discuss. It's also because your health has a big impact on other parts of your life, and that needs to be talked about too. Source: National Institute on Aging Tips For a More Effective Visit With Your Doctor Share any symptoms. Give information about your medications. Tell the doctor about your habits. Voice other concerns. Be prepared: make a list of concerns. Take information with you. Make sure you can see and hear as well as possible. Consider bringing a family member or friend. Write down instructions and notes. Plan to update the doctor on what has happened since your last visit. 43