Tips for making the most of your GP or Consultant/Specialist Visit

Getting the most out of your appointment with your GP or consultant/specialist. Yes, doctors are busy, but here are some tips to help you build a good working relationship with your GP or specialist. It’s that important.

• Turn Off Your Phone when you are with your doctor.  I can’t say that enough.   The doctor-patient communication is challenging.   It is even more so if someone is distracted or not making eye contact.

• Prepare for your appointment by writing down all your questions. I tell this to all of my patients, whether it is GP appointment, awaiting an in-hospital consult, or meeting with Public Health Nurse. You will forget that one thing you meant to ask. Bring the list, and don’t leave before making sure you asked everything.  I know I recently wrote an entire post about “The List” but it is still important.

• If you are given a recommendation for a scan, new medication, or told something you don’t understand: ASK! Before you leave the room, pause and make sure you are completely happy with the information before you leave. Your doctor would much rather make sure you have the right information for YOU, rather than Dr. Google’s answer. When you get home, and you find your forgot to ask or aren’t clear, ring the surgery and ask the receptionist to have the GP ring you back at his earliest convenience. Have your question ready. Some GP surgeries have an online form to request a call back.

• If you know you will need time: to have an in-depth discussion about social issues, have more than one child that you need seen, etc., be honest when booking the appointment. Many will try allocate you more time, or maybe put you at the end of the day.

• Questions about the new prescription after leaving? Your best bet is your chemist/pharmacist – do not crowd source this from comments on social media. Ask to speak to the chemist/pharmacist himself/herself (not the sales clerk). Pharmacists are amazing and highly trained. All of us docs in every type of practice rely on them to advise us on medications, doses, side effects, and interactions – that’s what they are there for!

• Feel your doctors isn’t listening? Say it (kindly!) in the moment. Doctors are human, and most Irish docs have too many patients, a lot of HSE stress, and are constantly under-resourced. It probably isn’t you. Just give them a gentle nudge to re-focus on your concern. Don’t just leave the appointment and get online.

• Interested in alternative therapies, holistic treatments, etc.? Do discuss it with your doctor. Some essential oils DO have clinical evidence, others can actually interact with your prescription medication, some are just rubbish.  Mythbusting:  There is no secret cure that your doctor doesn’t want you to know. If a treatment is effective, safe, and studied – we are happy to talk about it.  

• Do not be personally offended by suggestions of lifestyle change. It’s your doctor’s ethical and professional obligation to raise questions about, when relevant, health risks of smoking, obesity, alcohol/drug misuse, stress, bike helmets.  Some doctors have additional training in certain areas, so it is worth asking if a GP in your practice has special training or interest in women’s health, sexual health, or obesity.

• Really dissatisfied with your GP? Most likely a personality thing. The standard that GPs in Ireland have to meet, in terms of exams, registration, and continuing professional development, is extraordinarily high. But not everyone will like their doctor. (And maybe your doc just has a personality clash with you, too.) Consider whether you can work past it, if not, you should consider changing, if possible. This is a relationship you need for your health and your family’s health. (I am not a GP & like all good docs, I don’t treat myself or my family. For a while, I drove 30 min to attend one of my colleagues with whom I had a great rapport and trust, and I didn’t want to lose when we both moved.)