Listening Is Primary for Effective Quality Healthcare

In this ever changing world of new technology conversations with your doctor face to face are becoming less frequent.  Prior to modern technological advances, most talking to your doctor was done in person during the office or home visit.  Any talk after the visit was by phone, fax, and/or postal mail.  Today this has expanded to e-mail, electronic health records (EHRs), and telemedicine.  Many patients feel that face doctor time is too short and often overshadowed by intense study of the chart and other distractions.  Many doctors overlook the fact that what you have to say will help them diagnose you. 

Studies have shown that missed diagnoses are more likely if the doctor has failed to listen to the patient.  Distractions like patient chart review, interruptions during the office visit, leaving the room to take care of something else, and more decreases the patient’s time.  This unprofessional, unmannerable behavior leaves the patient at a disadvantage.  After getting ready for the appointment and being transported and possibly waiting over one hour to see the doctor, the patient gets an average of less than five minutes of fifteen minute visit to talk.  This is a major faux pas. Patients are able to help lead the doctor to correct diagnoses and treatment over 90% of the time if they listen to the patient.  Less listening invites more unnecessary tests, procedures, and incorrect diagnoses than one can imagine as the doctor tries to rule out what is wrong.

Listening to patients’ history and doing a comprehensive physical exam contributes more to getting the correct diagnosis.  Blood and diagnostic tests add to this; however, if the patient doctor communication is unclear, these could be the wrong tests.  For the patients’ best interest (and less misdiagnosis for patients, malpractice for doctors) communication must be a priority.  The following suggestions for doctors will help:

• Avoid distractions when you are with a patient.
• Give more time for those that need it like hearing impaired, elderly, illiterate.  If hearing impaired, write down conversation to each other.
• Listen intently to patients without interruption when they are talking.  More important information and more information will be obtained that way.
• Take more time to answer questions.  Use patient information handouts as applicable (include books, CDs, websites, etc.on pages)) for more reliable factual information
• Review patients’ medical record before you see them.  The more you see them the better you will get to know them requiring less chart review before each visit.

Doctor and patient communication is important in every patient’s health care.  Miscommunication can lead to adverse outcomes, inaccurate diagnosis, improper treatment, and poor overall health care.  Listening is a primary diagnostic tool that should be used all the times.  Best health!

Patient & Doctor Value Visit

Visits to your doctor or any healthcare provider can be frustrating and time consuming for all involved.  These are some things you can do to make it an easier and more productive.

One of the first things you want to do is make a written or typed medical history to take with you, especially if this is your first visit to a new doctor. Make a copy for you and your doctor. You both will be able to refer to it as needed. This will save valuable time, and give you and your doctor more time to talk instead of flipping through your medical record. It can be difficult trying to "remember" what test or procedure you had 10 years ago or even last year.

It is a good to make appointments when you are well and stable.  Keep a list of things you want to talk to your doctor about. Update the list before each visit. This way you will be able to keep track of what has been discussed, and what needs to be discussed. Try to talk about the most important things first especially those that need immediate attention. Each time you go for your visit, you can refer to your list and take up where you left off. Be sure to express your immediate concerns first. We all know how short a doctor visit can be.

Request copies of your medical records from all your doctors. "The medical record is the cornerstone of keeping track of everything pertaining to your health." This gives you a complete assessment of all your medical problems. You will be able to check the accuracy of your records, and bring any errors or absent information to your doctor's attention. Let your doctor know about anything you do not understand, or if there is something you are unable to read due to poor handwriting. It is surprising to see how many doctors are often unable to read their own writing.

Schedule your appointment for first available times in the morning or afternoon.*  This will likely ensure that you will be seen on time with a shorter wait time and longer visit.  It will help you and your doctor focus on your total health care versus acute, intermittent health concerns that can easily take up your whole time. Unless an emergency arises, the wait should be less than 15 minutes.  If there is an emergency you should be notified and given the option of waiting or rescheduling, or going elsewhere for treatment. 

The easiest thing you can do is be on time.  Best health!

*How to Make Your Doctor Appointment http://bit.ly/akMrpX

by J.L, Richardson, M.D., family medicine expert and author of Patient Handbook to Medical Care: Your Personal Health Guide, honorable mention of Writer's Digest International Self-Published Book Award** and Indie Excellence Award finalist.

(**Written by a reliable source, this book is the perfect quick reference for all of those squeamish people who hate going to the doctor. I am one of those people. I hate wondering why a certain test was performed, exactly what a common diagnosis may mean, what the proper specialist for my malady might be called, and negotiating the maze of health insurance forms and other paperwork that seems to accompany my ailment; thereby adding insult to injury. To avoid the mystery, misery, and tedium of the wellness process, I often remain sick in order to forego or delay much needed medical appointments. The author writes for people like me; she writes in a calming, professional tone and explains, in as simple and non-threatening a manner as possible, what I can expect along every step of the healing process. By learning to keep a medical diary, knowing what to expect of my medical staff as well as how to decode their complicated language, and then by understanding the basics of the complex American healthcare system, I can take charge of my own healthcare. This little book provides me with all the tools necessary to do just that. ~Writer's Digest)

Fever and Malaise: Flu or New Disease

Fever. Chills.  Malaise. Myalgia. Loss of appetite.  Cough.  These symptoms are consistent with the flu syndromes such as influenza.  They may also be signs of new inflammatory disease like infection in the body. Cancer and rheumatological disorders that include connective tissue diseases and arthritis may also present in similar fashion. Flu symptoms usually resovle in about ten days to two weeks.  Complications from the flu like pneumonia are likely to cause worsening of symptoms accompanied by new symptoms.

Flu precautions include:

• frequent hand washing especially after contact with others
• avoid those who have flu-like symptoms
• cover your mouth when you cough
• eat nutritious foods especially those that are specific for immunity and healing
• stay well hydrated
• get flu shot before flu season starts
  

These preventive measures are important for staying well and healing.  If your symptoms persist or worsen in any way follow-up with your healthcare provider that initially diagnosed you. Telemedicine health visits help contact avoidance while getting appropriate medical care for you.  Healthy self care, prevention, and avoidance are primary. Best health!

Healthy Life Lines

Live healthy.  Live simply.  "Healthy Life Lines: Simple Tips to Improve Your Health" http://amzn.to/2nLf1u0 consists of one line health tips for better health and wellness. These tips will encourage you to live a lifestyle of good health.  "Healthy Life Lines: Simple Tips to Improve Your Health" is available FREE on Kindle Unlimited.  "Healthy Life Lines 2" coming soon!

Healthy life lines include:

• Be literate in health.
• Focus on prevention to avoid intervention.
• Constantly do things to improve your health.
• Embrace healthy routines.
• Limit and avoid multitasking.
• Find funny and laugh daily.
• Keep a health diary.

Best health!

Educate Your Body: Know & Learn Your Blood Pressure

Do you know your average blood pressure reading? Do you know a normal blood pressure should be? High blood pressure, also called hypertension affects 1 in 3 adults worldwide.  It affects more people than any disease in the world. Untreated hypertension leads to unhealthy feelings and symptoms.  It causes heart disease, strokes, kidney failure, blindness, poor circulation, and more. 

A normal reading is 120/80.  For more accurate measures of your blood pressure and what affects it, you should do home blood pressure monitoring. Buy a blood pressure monitor for home use. Wrist and arm monitors are available in many stores on and off line. Record your blood pressure readings daily starting with morning, midday, and night. Make a note of your activity and how you are feeling. You may notice that extreme anxiety makes it go up. The correlation to your pressure will help you manage the things that make it go up. Share your results with your doctor so medication and lifestyle changes can be made if necessary.

You may find that while your blood pressure is high in the doctor's office, it may be normal in everyday activity. Remember, the doctor's result is a one time reading every one to four or more months. With normal home results, and high results at your doctor visits you may have "white coat" hypertension. There is much controversy over whether this should be treated. Check with your primary care doctor and cardiologist.

If your blood pressure is above 120/80, you want to start a low salt, low fat diet. One of the best is the DASH diet. Integrating healthy food, exercise, weight control, and stress reduction in your treatment plan improves the way you feel.  It also controls blood pressure. For higher blood pressure readings, medication may be necessary. Be sure to take your home blood pressure results in to your doctor. This will help in deciding on the best treatment for you. Best health!

White Coat Hypertension: Is It Really High Blood Pressure?  http://bit.ly/1cGaeMj