Elevate Your Health Colorado: Your Health Information Resource

Building a strong relationship with your doctor can help you live healthier and find more satisfaction in your overall care. But with time demands—on both you and your physician—how is it possible?

It starts with you.

In fact, here are six simple steps you can take to help your doctor help you.

1. Plan ahead. When possible, have lab work done prior to your appointment, especially if you have an ongoing condition. “For example, if a Kaiser Permanente member has diabetes, we can discuss the A1c number during the appointment instead of waiting for results,” says Steve Haley, MD, a board-certified internist and area primary care operations chief with Kaiser Permanente Colorado.

2. Make a list—and check it twice. Bring a list of your health care concerns and medications. “This will help your physician plan your visit,” Dr. Haley says. Further, check your list to make sure it is prioritized and succinct.

To prepare for visits, Kaiser Permanente members are encouraged to access My Health Manager, a tool that allows them to:

• View their online medical record, including their health history and past visit summaries, manage prescriptions, and more.
• E-mail their doctor with questions 24/7—a convenience that helps members and doctors foster good communication and build stronger relationships.
• Find local classes, online health seminars, and free podcasts.

Kaiser Permanente members are also encouraged to use this tool to e-mail follow-up questions or schedule telephone appointments with their doctor if needed. “Your interaction with your doctor isn’t confined to office visits,” Dr. Haley says.

3. Have honest conversations. “The most powerful person in the exam room is the patient,” says Kate Felix, PhD, RN, medical office administrator, internal medicine, regional department director for quality with Kaiser Permanente Colorado. “Be focused about what you want, ask lots of questions, and disclose all of your symptoms.” Dr. Felix recommends:

• Being proactive and open about your health concerns at the beginning of your visit—including embarrassing symptoms.
• Asking about options. “Oftentimes a patient will have the impression there’s only one treatment option,” she says. If you’re hesitant, ask for options.
• Continuing the conversation. If time is running short, or you need time to process information, ask your provider if you can continue the conversation with a phone call or by e-mail.

4. Bring a companion. Bringing your significant other, a friend, or a family member to appointments can provide moral support and help you remember your treatment plan. “They may also offer information that helps your doctor get a fuller picture, which, in turn, helps you get better care,” Dr. Haley says.

Kaiser Permanente members receive an after-visit summary, a complete printout of vital signs, prescriptions, and orders for tests that helps reinforce their treatment plan.

5. Be a team player. Just as a quarterback runs an offense, your doctor “runs” your care. But from lab techs to pharmacists, at Kaiser Permanente, members have an entire team working for them. “The important thing is for members to get to know all the providers on their doctor’s team,” Dr. Haley says.

“For example, their physician may focus on fixing disease, but the nurse on the team can help them cope with their feelings, which may impact the disease process and their overall feeling of health and wellness,” Dr. Felix says. Meanwhile, the clinical pharmacist can work with the member and their doctor to adjust medication levels.

6. Manage your expectations. Your neighbor had an MRI, so you want one, too. And you want your doctor to fix your cholesterol, but you’re not eating well or exercising. “These are difficult conversations to have, but sometimes a patient’s expectations are unrealistic,” Dr. Felix says.

How can you find out? “Just ask this question: ‘This is what I would like. Is it realistic?’” she says. If you clearly communicate your expectations, your doctor can help you understand options and you can make a plan together.

For more information on making the most of your doctor appointments, visit KaiserPermanente.org.

Dr. Haley received his medical degree from the University of Colorado, and also performed his residency there. Kate Felix, PhD, RN, received her PhD from the University of Colorado, Health Sciences Center.