Understand That Your Visit Agenda and the Doctor’s Might Differ and Be Prepared to Share Everything That Concerns You Upfront
You must avoid overwhelming your doctor with different problems. In most cases, your doctor will want to focus on pressing issues. Sometimes, what a patient wants to talk about is different from what the doctor wants. The patient might be bothered about a spot on her skin, that he doesn’t know it’s cancerous.
There’s a term used in physician-patient encounters, known as the “hand on the doorknob.” This is when the doctor thinks the visit is over and is getting ready to leave the room, but the patient talks about a problem that they haven’t discussed previously. When this happens, it’s problematic for both parties. The issue by the way might be a vital health concern that should have been discussed early in the visit. Or the doctor may have run out of time. Either way, the situation can make for a less than satisfying visit.
Your doctor can acknowledge the patient’s list at the beginning of the appointment and then ask if there is anything else. If your doctor doesn’t do this, the hand on the doorknob may occur. In some cases, your doctor might refuse to ask these questions.
In some cases, the doctor’s office provides this kind of information beforehand. Having a better understanding can also help decrease anxiety [4] and stress [5]. If you want to do some online research into a health issue you’re having before you go to the doctor’s office, make sure you only use reliable sources. It’s also worth asking if the practice can provide or direct you to information to review.
Finally, if you leave the office (or sign off from your appointment) and find out you’ve forgotten to ask about an issue, that’s okay. Awake at 3 a.m. thinking about something you forgot, and you’re not having the worst chest pain [6] of your life, send a note and the nurse or doctor will get back to you. However you must remember that the portal isn’t for emergencies.