Here Are Key Tips For Advocating For Yourself As A Patient And Ensuring You Get The Care You Deserve
Have you ever been to a doctor’s visit and felt as though you were dismissed? For instance, if you tried asking questions about your doctor during your appointment and felt like you could hardly get a word in.
Or, they don’t give you enough information the first time you ask a question, then make you feel like you can’t ask another.
A lot of patients have a very hard time advocating for themselves, their pain, and their treatment plans. However, it’s incredibly important that you do so because you don’t want to risk getting the wrong kind of treatment or glazing over something pressing.
If you could use a few more tips for advocating for yourself as a patient, here are some to get you on the road to better appointments.
Bring someone with you
I personally sometimes find myself struggling to make the most of my time with my doctors during our appointments. But when I have someone in the room with me, like a parent or close friend, I have backup.
Having a trusted loved one who is well aware of your situation at your appointment is super beneficial. Not only can they help stick up for you and ask questions, but they can take notes about the appointment and remember details you may have missed.
Have a game plan before heading to the doctor
If you don’t know what questions you want to ask or can’t list all your symptoms or issues off the top of your head, you should make a game plan that covers what you want to go over with your doctor. It can be easy to get frazzled and forget to ask for something.
bnenin – stock.adobe.com – illustrative purposes only, not the actual people
Before your appointment, take a moment to write down your symptoms, issues, and questions so that you can have them all ready to go before seeing your doctor. You can even just hand them the sheet of paper and have them read it to make sure you don’t miss anything!
Prioritize your time
I’ve had appointments with doctors where it felt like we did more friendly chatting than we did discussing my health.
Some doctors like to be kind and charming but end up wasting a lot of appointment time making small talk before rushing through your medical issues.
Let your doctor know if you need more time to discuss something or have a few more questions. Don’t let them rush you out of your appointment, especially if you’re paying a lot of money just to see them.
Take notes
If you struggle to remember everything you went over with your doctor or think you’ll likely have more questions to ask after your appointment, try your best to take notes during your time together.
Have a friend write down notes, write them yourself, or ask your doctor if you can record your conversation on your phone to make sure you’re keeping track of what they tell you.
Speak up when you’re uncomfortable
Whether you’re physically or mentally uncomfortable around your doctor, you need to speak up when they make you feel that way.
If your doctor ever uses discrimination around you by making you feel less-than because of your gender, race, weight, or medical history, speak up and let them know that’s not alright.
Doctors should be doing their best to help their patients, no matter who they are or what their background is.
Don’t be afraid to find another doctor
Some of us get stuck in the mentality that we must stick with one doctor forever. But if they aren’t a good fit for you and you continue to feel dismissed, even after advocating for yourself, it’s probably time to find someone new.
There’s a good doctor out there for everyone, someone who will answer questions, give explanations, and show genuine empathy. It just might require some extra effort to find them. Good luck!
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