Connect
← Return to Unbearable Neuropathy
Discussion
Comment receiving replies
@dbeshears1 Debbie, got a kick out of your color-coded system: green, yellow, red. As I sip my second cup of morning coffee, I almost spit it out laughing....but, you are making a great point and at the end of the day, the significance of a visit to the doctor is twofold. Well, to me it is. They always have the casual glancing of the clock which bugs me but as they begin going through their agenda, I listen carefully. Then, as they wrap up, I always have "a question" which they can't ignore. That becomes my time. And I always go with my questions (yes typed!!) which are on a 3 X 5 index card easily accessible and visible in my shirt pocket. I never have more than 3 items and I too glance at the clock, so the practitioner is aware that I'm sensitive to her time with me. My primary is a nurse practitioner who I've been going to for 20 years. She generally has more time to spend, my appointments are 30 minutes long and I always get in at 8:30. Since I have 3 questions, perhaps I will color code them!! Remember, keep moving and keep positive! Ed
Replies to "@dbeshears1 Debbie, got a kick out of your color-coded system: green, yellow, red. As I sip..."
(@njed, @dbeshears) Debbie, Ed
You both make an excellent point. I also try to let the doctor know that I am sensitive to his time constraints; in fact, if I can shoehorn it in, as I'm taking out my index card of "important things to mention," I'll say something like, "I wrote these before today's visit so I'd not waste your time." That usually gets an appreciative smile.
Ray (@ray666)
Connect
Have to use a little psychology…. Same things we respond to they probably do! As a writer who tends to be lengthy, I know with them and their time, it can’t be wordy, so I use bullets that hopefully we can elaborate on if needed; must be well spaced to look like short lists under the few underlined subtitles, use occasional boldface on words or larger font; and colors help them find things at a glance. My PCP once wrote in her notes “I was so pleased to see so many greens on this visit and only 1 red!” Stop, Go, & Caution colors are universal, as I learned from quality courses over the years. Anything we must do to get points across, though it doesn’t work for all doctors I’ve had. I swear one may have been color blind. I need to do your watch glancing, to make sure I also emphasis that I prepared with their time constraints in mind.