How to Be a Proactive Patient

Gone are the days when patients blindly follow doctor's orders. Today's consumers educate themselves about everything from pop culture hot topics to comparing prices for a new purchase. Patients are following suit by being more aware of symptoms, medications and procedures before talking to their doctors. Becoming a proactive patient is critical in an over-scheduled medical system.

Instructions

• 1

  Track your symptoms. Your doctor won't know how to treat you if you can't tell him accurately what you're experiencing. Make note of when you feel better or worse and what affects you such as certain foods or weather changes.

• 2

  Note the medications and supplements you are taking. Make a detailed list of the pills and potions you consume and when you take them. Take special note of those that seem to affect you positively or negatively.

• 3

  Write down your questions. Set apart some time to put all of the questions you have for your doctor on paper. You may want to ask questions about alternative treatments or the testing necessary to make a proper diagnosis.

• 4

  Locate the best doctor for your situation. Call your insurance company or local hospital and ask for a recommended doctor for the symptoms you are experiencing. Also, ask your friends and family for the name of referral physicians.

• 5

  Ask everything you want to know about your condition. Appointments with your doctor sometimes feel rushed and you may feel intimidated in the moment. Try to take your time and refer to your notes to make sure you are comfortable with the information you receive before leaving.

• 6

  Keep track of your test results. You may need to have tests run to determine what is going on with your body. If you do, ask for a copy of every test result and keep them in a binder at home. Follow your results over time to see how the numbers and results have changed.

• 7

  Research your condition. Spend some time looking up all the information you can find about your diagnosis, including what other conditions mimic it. Missed diagnoses has been cited as one of the five main medical mistakes committed by today's physicians.

• 8

  Get a second opinion. After you have tests run and a diagnosis, schedule an appointment with another physician to see if he agrees with the conclusion. If he does, you know you're on the right track. If he doesn't, continue to research what else may be wrong.