Your Tips on How to Get Off to the Best Start with a New Specialist

@cacoon6 I am sorry that you had such a miserable day. I think even the best medical facilities can have some doctors who tend to be more abrupt than helpful. As others have said, I agree that the advice from @jolinda is the best.

I hope things go better tomorrow and that you get the help you are seeking. I’ll be looking forward to hearing how it goes.
JK

I wish you could have been with me. When I asked him questions he said "Nope" when I said do you think my symptoms could be related he again said "Nope" I asked if another scan should be ordered since the tumor couldnt be visualized on my pituitary gland. He said Christmas...all done in less than 10 minutes. I am not sure what dismissed is but I did feel that way. I am hopeful that when visiting a MD they are open to questions and look you in the eye and not looking towards the door.

@cacoon6, I agree with everything that other members have said. With little food, sleep and a splitting headache, a poor experience was made even worse. I second @roch's experience to contact the Office of Patient Experience.
https://www.mayoclinic.org/about-mayo-clinic/patient-experience
Rochester, Minnesota, campus:
officeofpatientexperience@mayo.edu
507-284-4988

@jolinda's advice of "Focus on writing down your main points, be ready to ask "why", "when" "who else can I see"." puts you back in control. The patient is the main team member and the driver of the health care team.

Wow! I do believe you, it is just hard having seen so many doctors there. I am hoping tomorrow goes better for you.

Great link, Colleen! It prompted my next “Please See Me” true and sincerely meant openers for 2 upcoming doc visits:

To Cardio: My 1st visit with you probably saved my life...then share concise with dates of printed health challenge journey over this past year.

To Pcp: You are the 1st doc I’ve ever had who earlier instructed her nurse to cancel as “unnecessary” my just made appointment with you. Followed with printed, added updates of conditions.

With too many patients and too little time/patient, getting the doc's attention and providing data as Laurie provided in her 11/2/18 excellent post, can help the docs better help us and that is each patient's #1 goal.

Hi all,
You guys have no idea how often I refer members to this extremely useful discussion with all your tips. In fact, we made a video capturing your top tips. Here's the video that YOU made. It is published on YouTube and was published on Mayo Clinic's app and through social media. I hope you'll share it with your networks. It's great advice: For patients by patients.

Thank you!

@colleenyoung I liked that just reviewed it all good points

@colleenyoung As @lioness commented, it reviews the good points, and again did not get caught up in too much detail.
JK

Hello Everyone, I too see the value of writing a list of questions and/or symptoms and, also writing what doctors/providers tell us. We can easily forget what we want them to know and a lot of what they say, even though we can see the aftercare summary and eventually their notes from the visit.

I have done this over the years a couple of times until..... and please forgive, I don't mean to be a buzz kill/Debbie downer, but I worked as a Medical Assistant for a many years for probably 60-70 providers. Most of them did not like the lists and would complain to the staff when patients brought what they called, "a laundry list". One even said I would have to come back for another appointment. Never mind the physical hardship I went through to get there and how long I had to wait in pain.

Now, they even ask at the time of scheduling the appointment and when the MA puts you in a room, what is the "ONE" most important thing you want to address today.

Most of us have a myriad problems. I have a zillion specialists so thankfully I haven't had to deal with this in a while but it can make an already hurting patient feel worse. It's especially bad when, although not your fault, they are running behind. We didn't ask for our afflictions.

I 've had some great PCPs, who have flagged the system to allow a longer appointment time for my appointments. That is something you can suggest or talk to your doctor about. They control their own schedules and can do that so go to bat for yourselves and ask. They like it because it keeps them more on time.

We talked about advocating for ourselves recently. We Must!
I care deeply about all of you and your well being. Many blessings, Sunnyflower 😊♥️🙏

@sunnyflower, I appreciate what you wrote about medical staff complaining about what they considered a "patient's laundry list" of symptoms at office visits. When I received 3 diagnoses for chronic health issues within the last year, I first started researching all I could learn about each and how to better manage them. I also typed questions for each specialist, and asked them to read them at the visits. I didn't share a list of a bazillion symptoms or questions about what I could do better or watch for but one doc in particular, resented my request, saying "I have a clinic full of patients to see and can't address each item on this sheet". The 6 items were brief; more to keep me on track and to get answers because otherwise, I'm always afraid I'll leave without remembering what I most needed help with. I was very hurt by her response because she had been one of my most favorite docs until that day.

I think it wonderful that many patients on the Connect forums write about how their specialsts work as a "team" and individually take the time to discuss procedures, recommendations and answer questions. While we are all acutely aware that physicians have heavy work loads and are limited in the time they can allow each patient, I also know how 'thin skinned" some can be and either feel "threatened" or "irritated" if a "difficult patient" questions a med or procedure and about what effects it may have.

Knowledge is power and I've learned that the patient bears a great responsibility in learning how to manage and become a patient advocate. I'm also learning, at least with mine, that docs treating older patients with multiple health issues do not want to discuss anything about the effects of treatment for one malady may adversely another chronic condition. I hope sharing my experience is helpful to others and I appreciate what you cautioned.