Your time is precious and so is your doctor’s. When you are prepared for a doctor’s visit, you can gain much more from the interaction.

The better prepared you are the more value you will get from the 15 to 30 minutes allotted to you.

Before the visit

    • Prepare a list of things that you want to ask the doctor and decide on the three main things that you want answers for
    • Prepare a list of your symptoms and the self-care that you’ve applied until now
    • Decide on your main complaint and an accurate description of it
    • Write down your hunches and fears about what you think may be wrong with you
    • Prepare a list of all the medicines you are currently taking, including the ones that you buy over the counter.

 

During the visit

    • State your main concern and describe it
    • Be truthful in your conversation with the doctor
    • Describe all your fears and uncertainties
    • Ask questions about the treatment and medicines the doctor recommends until you fully understand them and the risks involved
    • Find out what you can do at home to help you get better
    • Take notes of what the doctor says and ask the doctor to explain if you don’t understand them.

 

Share in decision making

If your doctor recommends a treatment of medicine, you should participate in the decision to continue with the treatment or not. To help you make these decisions, you should:

    • let your doctor know what you want, that is, stating your preferences
    • do your own research
    • ask why the treatment or medicine is necessary, what it will do for you and if alternatives are available
    • ask what will happen if you wait a while before starting the treatment or medicine
    • ask about the cost of the treatment or medicine and/or if it is covered by your medical fund
    • ask about the side-effects (short and long term), recovery times, pain management, etc.

 

Your rights

As a medical consumer you have some rights, namely the right to:

    • be spoken to in words that you understand
    • be told what is wrong with you
    • know the benefits and risks of any treatment and its alternatives
    • know what a treatment or test will cost you
    • share in all treatment decisions
    • refuse any medical procedure.

 

Our Employee Wellbeing Programme (EWP) is available 24 hours a day if you want to know more about visiting a doctor.