You get sick. You go to the doctor. You get better. That’s it. Well, not quite. Despite what you may think, there are lots of things you can do to help the doctor who treats you.
And you can make sure that you get your money’s worth. There’s a lot more to being a patient than looking miserable, coughing in the waiting room and taking a day or two off work. Oh yes, and taking the odd tablet – when you remember.M
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Here’s how to be a good patient.
Don’t wait till you're at death’s door. If you have been coughing for four months, you can’t expect the doctor to sort you out in 24 hours. Make an appointment when something becomes a problem, not weeks or months afterwards. Any doctor can only do so much. They are, after all, only human.
Be on time. Yes, yes, I know you’ve often spent hours in waiting rooms when doctors are running late. But keep your end of the bargain, at least. If you are late, you are just increasing the time that all the other patients may have to spend waiting.
Do your homework. If you have asthma, or diabetes, or some other long-term condition, take the time to go and look up information on the internet or in the library. A doctor can only explain so much in half an hour. If you are well-informed, you are also in a position to ask informed questions, and in doing so, getting more out of your doctor’s visit.
Know your medical history. Especially if you have a new doctor, you need to know your medical history. Which childhood diseases have you had? Any allergies? Which operations have you had, and when did you have them? These are all things your doctor needs to know before being able to treat you properly.
Finish courses of antibiotics. Many people stop taking antibiotics when they start feeling better. That’s the worst thing to do, because the infection is not yet gone, and may make a vicious reappearance. Even if you’re feeling 100%, finish courses of antibiotics. Always.
Make a list of questions. Write down the things you want to ask. Invariably, once you’re in the doctor’s surgery, you can’t remember a thing. And it’s only afterwards you remember you still wanted to ask about possibly being allergic to Aunt Agatha’s cat, or your constant post-nasal drip.
Follow instructions. If the doctor tells you to stay in bed for a week – do it. If you’re not supposed to drink wine while you’re on antibiotics, just don’t do it. Remember, you are not doing the doctor a favour by obeying instructions. You’re the only one that benefits from getting better. Oh, yes, and stick to recommended dosages. If one headache tablet doesn’t work, two won’t either. Maybe you need another brand.
Pay your bill. Unpaid bills are a huge nightmare for doctors in private practice. That’s why many doctors have now switched to a cash-on-consultation based practice. Don’t get caught in the embarrassing situation where you have a medical crisis, but your doctor’s bill has also been unpaid for four months.
Have the decency to cancel. If you can’t make it, let the receptionist know. This is just common decency. Otherwise you are just wasting the doctor’s time – and you’re making yourself look pretty crummy.
Join a medical scheme. This is actually more for your benefit than for the doctor’s, but it does mean that if you need to go for tests or need to be seen by a specialist, especially in an emergency, that cost doesn’t prohibit him or her sending you for the treatment you need when you need it. If you’re really ill, you probably don’t feel like waiting seven hours in a queue at a state hospital for treatment.
Until they reach puberty, there is little difference between boys and girls when it comes to speed and strength. But girls do tend to develop physical skills more quickly.
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