Tips for Talking with Your Patient’s Doctor

Regardless of your patient’s age and health status, they will likely benefit from your help talking with doctors and other health care providers. Because a cancer diagnosis alone is overwhelming and the information and choices that follow can seem endless, your help recording and processing information and asking questions will be very important. Furthermore, doctor’s visits may be brief; with this in mind, you can help your patient be organized and maximize this short amount of time. You’ll be well prepared with some basic guidelines about getting the most out of each office visit and consultation.

Preparing for Doctor’s Visits

• Educate Yourself
  Use many resources to learn more about your patients’ disease and treatment options and to prepare specific questions for the health care team. Depending on your patient’s health status, they may or may not be able to participate in this research. Resources may include books, the Internet, second opinions, and other patients with the same diagnosis. As you (along with your patient, if possible) educate yourself, make an ongoing list of questions for your health care provider and organize your questions before the appointment.
  


• Preparing for the Appointment
  Before the appointment, if your patient is unable to do so, contact the doctor’s office to determine the medical records or paper work that the doctor will require before the appointment. This will help the doctor be prepared for your patient. Also, make sure your patient brings a list of all medications they are currently taking to each appointment. Your patient may need your help compiling this list.
  


• At the Appointment
  Some very important ways you can assist your patient during the visit include writing down information the doctor provides, requesting written recommendations, asking questions your patient may not feel comfortable asking, and tape recording the appointment (with the physician’s consent). Having a caregiver present at appointments can also be an invaluable source of emotional support and comfort for your patient.
  
  Some specific assistance you can provide during the doctor’s visit includes:
  
  
  • Make sure the list of questions you and your patient have created is used as a guideline to issues that need to be discussed. If the doctor says something you or your patient do not understand, make sure these points are clarified.
    
  
  
  • Neither you nor your patient should be intimidated by any member of the health care team. The health care team is a partner in treatment. As a caregiver, remind your patient that they should not worry about asking questions or being an inconvenience. Make sure no concern goes unrecognized.
    
  
  
  • You or your patient may forget to ask a question, or a new question or concern may arise after the appointment. Before you leave the doctor’s office, find a way to contact the doctor if you have more questions. Although it may not be practical for your patient’s doctor to directly receive calls, other members of the health care team may be available via messaging, voice mail, or e-mail.