Communicating with Medical Providers

Know that you have a right to advocate for yourself, and that you deserve to be treated with dignity and respect. Speaking up isn’t ‘being difficult’ - it’s being proactive!

Write things down! Making a written list of the questions you have, and bringing that list to your appointments, can help you make the most of the appointment and make sure to get all the information you need to manage your recovery. Oftentimes medical appointments are short and can be difficult to schedule. Also, we often don’t remember all our questions if we don’t write them down. So make the most of your time with your provider by bringing a list of questions!

Develop strong communication skills. Organize your thoughts, write down your questions ahead of time, and practice role-playing so that you feel confident addressing your provider in a clear and respectful manner. Furthermore, don’t be afraid to communicate with your provider. Ask questions, and request that your provider clarify anything that you didn’t understand.

Understand how your health insurance works. It can be scary to not know how much you’ll be expected to pay out of pocket for things like surgery, physical therapy, or medication prescriptions. You can contact your insurance company, as well as the billing department at your medical provider location, and ask them to walk you through what is covered by your insurance and what is not. Removing the uncertainty can go a long way to making you feel more in control!

Do your research! Learning more about your injury will help you be more informed, and may help you to know what conversations you need to have with your doctor. Get an idea of what others with your injury typically struggle with, what recovery timelines are common, and all of the available possible treatments. Injuries often have more than one treatment option; searching this information out may lead to you discovering options that weren’t mentioned by your provider.

Pay close attention to your body. Keeping a close eye on your injury as well as your overall health will allow you to pick up on changes that you may want to address with your provider. It may be helpful to write down symptoms as you experience them so you can communicate to your doctor when they started, their frequency, and other important information. Trust your body, and if you sense that something is wrong, seek additional care.

Keep records of your medical care. It may be helpful to organize all prescriptions, discharge notes, visit summaries, billing statements, and referrals in an electronic or paper folder. The amount of information provided to you may feel overwhelming, but being able to keep track of it all in one place can help provide a sense of control and make referencing information like home-care instructions easier.

Know that you have the ability to choose your provider. Selecting a medical provider that you feel confident in and comfortable with is important, and you have the right to ask questions about your doctor’s experience and to research their credentials online. If you feel uncomfortable with the medical advice given by your provider, you also have the ability to seek a second opinion. It can feel hard to speak up to an authority figure, but if you are experiencing discomfort with the medical opinion or treatment plan provided by your doctor, obtaining opinions from other providers can be a good way to explore all options.

Read all documentation closely to ensure that no errors were made. Mistakes happen, and reviewing visit notes and medical bills yourself or with a loved one can prevent you from being incorrectly charged or having important information omitted from your record. Make sure that the information listed on all documents is accurate, and relevant information like allergies or medications are included.

Enlist your loved ones. Don’t feel that you have to do it all alone; consult your friends and family for support, inquire what questions they might have for your provider, and request their help in making decisions. Though YOU are ultimately responsible for deciding what is best for your own body, it can be helpful to have others to bounce ideas off of and make you feel less isolated. Bringing a loved one to medical appointments can be a great source of support and can help to be sure your family knows about your treatment plan. Also, if you are having trouble remembering things due to your injury or due to medications, family members can help you get the most out of your medical appointments.

Express gratitude. Many medical providers, nurses, and other medical staff work very hard and are not appreciated for the work they do. Expressing gratitude for their help can brighten their day, and can also build a strong foundation for when you need additional assistance from them in the future.