Make sure you are a priority patient every time you call him. Well, nothing is as harmful as not knowing what you suffer.
If you need to see a doctor, we hope you do not live in a city that is too populated, such as Mexico, where an average consultation at social security hospitals takes about 60 days. In other countries, the situation is similar, even in the United States. For example, in Boston, being treated will take about 54 days. Delays are the result of health reform, which guarantees to cover people without medical insurance. But guess that? If similar reforms were adopted at national level, the number of waiting days could increase. At least that is the result of the study by Merritt Hawkins, a medical contracting firm that investigates the waiting time.
In general, you will have to wait an average of 17 days to see an orthopedist if you have a bad knee, and an urgent matter is not easily addressed. Battles with bronchitis? 53% of those who felt bad said they couldn’t see their doctor that same day or the next day , according to a study taken from the Commonwealth Fund , an independent health care research group.
But while it may be harder for you than ever to fight because they treat you, it is impossible to ensure that your busy doctor does not divide his attention . We ask doctors and medical experts for secret tips to ensure the best access to your doctor.
Write down your appointment
Don’t assume that your pus-filled abscess will take you to the front of the line. The receptionists have heard everything before you arrive.“You need to be careful to convince the supervisor that you really need to see the doctor soon,” says Dr. Paul Konowitz, medical director of HealthAngle.com, a patient information site. He suggests that you provide all the details you can and then speculate about what it could mean. If you feel dizzy, for example, emphasize that it affects your ability to work and function properly, tell them that you fear falling on the stairs and have a family history of neurological problems and that worries you. Once the receptionist has this information, you can probably press for your appointment to fit in one of those holes that doctors typically reserve every day to attend urgent visits.
Presume it if you have it. “If you have good insurance, that will be your entry,” says Mark Smith, president of Merritt Hawkins. Some are appreciated by doctors for their almost immediate pay. Mentioning any of these can open doors faster. If you are in a Premium plan, also say it (you will not need references and, probably, extra studies will be covered). Finally, if you are willing to pay in cash, you should know. Medical offices love customers who pay in cash, says Smith.
Take advantage of an empty space . Every day, an average of 20% of patients cancel their appointment , says Gina Minas, director of medical referrals and health resources at Northwestern Memorial Hospital in the United States. “Always ask if you can be placed on the waiting list.”
Go on the agenda. If the receptionist does not enroll you on the list, call again and ask for the office manager, or the nurse or personal assistant of the doctor, recommends Dr. Konowitz. When you can get in touch with any of these people, clearly explain the problem that the receptionist has not caught. That person can tell her to add the date for your appointment.
Make the doctor listen to you
Approximately half of medical appointments last less than 15 minutes, according to a survey conducted by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Still you can have a visit to which you take advantage in that time: do not make jokes. “There is no time to talk during your appointment,” says Smith. Save the jokes for the end of your visit. Here you can find other ways to take advantage of all the wisdom of your doctor.
He prefers less crowded days. Fridays are usually the weakest days of the week for doctor’s offices, so your visit may be less rushed, says Dr. Mark Welton, chief of colorectal surgeries at Stanford University in the United States. Always ask for your appointment first thing in the morning or after lunch, when the doctor is in a hurry , says Dr. Anne Chapas, a clinical assistant and professor of dermatology at the University of New York. “We started on time, but towards the end of the day, things can get heavy,” he says.
Hierarchize your questions. “Fifteen minutes is not enough time for you to examine and answer all your questions. So make a list of the most important, ”advises Dr. Chapas. “Ask things like: What are the foods I should consume to lower my cholesterol? “Says Chapas. If you finish asking the basics and there is still a little time left, do the ones that surpass you. Avoid the “yes-no” type.
Find what you want. Before you go, ask your doctor if there is anything else you should ask, adds Dr. Welton. Do you need to know one thing? Is there anything they assume you know? That will make the doctor think more deeply about the details of your problem that have not been touched during the appointment.
Prepare for what is coming
If you wait for the results of the studies or any other doctor feedback, you need to understand how he or she likes to communicate. Some doctors return the phone call at the end of their day; others call only when they have bad news. Some tell laboratories to contact you or, rarely, they send you a letter or an email. “So before leaving the office, ask how and when you will receive your results, ” says Dr. Chapas.
If you have waited long enough and still do not receive news from the doc, it is okay to dial to remind them that the doctor has not called you, even if you do it three times a day is correct, says Konowitz. “Two or three messages will catch my attention faster than just one.” If you think you’ll be waiting on the phone, try the following.
Enforce the law. Privacy laws prevent your doctor from providing your medical information to anyone else by phone. That means you can’t leave a detailed message on your answering machine or any person in your home without your written consent, says Dr. Chapas. Give your doctor an “ok” to leave you a message or give your wife your medical information in case it is urgent.
Take the phone. Some doctors check their emails more often than messages on their phones, says Erin Moaratty, head of the special projects office for the Patient Defense Foundation. “Doctors can answer you in what other tasks do,” he says. Ask the doctor if that is what you prefer and then take your email address. Ask everything you want briefly and refresh your doctor’s memory about your condition.
ALERT The doctor will finally receive me
If you cannot get an appointment to see the professional, investigate if there are any medical assistants in the office. These people usually have a certified degree in medicine (perhaps they are residents) and can do everything from physical studies and treatments for injuries, to preliminary diagnoses of heart conditions, cancer and other diseases. “Physician assistants can order studies and follow up with their supervising doctors, if they notice anything,” says Jim Delaney, a medical assistant in the department of orthopedic surgery at the University of South Texas, in the United States. United.