Whether you’re going to a new or seeing your favorite doctor, there is always some apprehension. Even if you're going for something routine. Why do we feel this way? For me its always the fear of the unknown. What is the doctor going to find? Will I have to change my life style? Not only that, but just going to the doctor is a hassle. You have to put your life "on hold" the day of the appointment. If you physically have to go to the doctor, you may have to wait in your car before you enter. Get your temperature check to make sure you’re even well enough to make the visit. COVID19 makes going to the doctor more difficult, and understandably so. We all make sacrifices to stop the spread of the virus.
How can "the doctor visit" be less apprehensive? There are small things we as patients can do to make a big difference. Try to schedule your doctor visit at the end of the week, like on a Friday. Scheduling your visit on a Friday gives you a chance to have an early weekend. Even if you’re like me and you love your job, there is something about going home early to put it behind you for a few days.
Schedule your appointments early. Schedule your appointment in the morning rather than afternoon. The doctor and staff are ready to work in the mornings. Scheduling at the end of the day may be more convenient for you but you might not get the doctor or the staff's optimal work (especially now with COVID19 overtime).
Have all the necessary paper work done before your visit. Call the office and see if they have a website where you can achieve this task. Having the paperwork already done before you arrive could mean leaving an hour early or jumping ahead in line.
What can your doctor do to make the visit less apprehensive? Make sure there is a user friendly patient portal accessible to the patients by phone. Having a phone friendly patient portal will encourage patients to have all there paperwork done before they arrive. If this is not an option, give the paperwork out in stages. Try not to overwhelm the patient with loads of paper work. If you give the patient what is needed in stages, they will be more attentive to what is in front of them instead of just trying to rush through it.
Be attentive. Try not to stare directly at your computer while asking questions. Put yourself in the patients shoes, try to relate to there needs and make eye contact when speaking to them.
Talk to the patient not at the patient. As a doctor you may see the same situation and said the same thing over and over again. Remember
this patient in front of you may be hearing this for the first time and the last thing they want is to feel like their problem is not important to you. I had a doctor once talk to me as if I was an audience. That really made me feel he cared nothing for me or my well being. I was merely apart of his daily routine.
Over all the doctor visit is a joint effort. The doctor, the staff, and the patient. Whether it's a visit to the hospital or a health care practice, it's easy to forget that the world does not revolve around us and that what we do as a health care provider affects others.
Author: Brent Luyet
Share