My Doctor Does Not Listen to Me - What Can I do?

  As you know medical errors take over 200,000 lives per year
(536 lives per day). Medications errors alone hurt 1.5 million Americans per year. Statically each one of us has a one in four or 25% chance of falling victim to a medical error every time we enter the healthcare system.

In fact many of you or someone you know has

experienced an error that has somehow changed your life.

It is estimated that up to 80% of medical errors could be prevented by improving communication between doctors

and patients.

       But what happens if your doctor will not listen to you?

That's a question I am asked all the time. Patients tell me that their doctors are rushed, eager to write a prescription and annoyed by questions. Many patients have asked me how to overcome this barrier.

      In What Did the Doctor Just Say? I give readers 3 steps that encourage

doctors to listen and to take the time needed to answer questions in a

manner that provides you them fully informed consent before making any

healthcare decision

      Step One: DeBunk the Myth that the Doctor Is a god and You are

Lesser Than Him. You MUST Adjust Your Attitude. If you believe the

doctor is a higher being you will be meek and mild

you will submit to being dismissed because you feel you are wrong

or annoying for even asking a question about your life and your health.

      "The Dr is a god" is a very harmful myth and is responsible for a great

many medical errors. Because patients don't feel free to speak and offer

information or to get information. If that type of information were

freely exchanged it is estimated that up to 80% of medical errors

could be prevented.

     The best way to begin the conversation with a doctor is with the

knowledge that the Dr. is your employee. That's right the Dr. works for

you and is paid by your insurance dollars. Healthcare providers are

facilitators for you to get the best care possible, not gods.

     Step Two: Prepare for the Visit In WDTDJS I supply worksheets

that you can complete with the information you need to prepare for

your visit. 
      Some of the most important information you can share is

a detailed description of your complaints including; Onset, Location

Duration, Characteristics, Aggravating Factors,Reliving Factors and 
Severity.

      These are the 9 questions doctors ask (or should ask) about all

of your complaints. When did it start, where does it hurt, how long did

it last, what did it feel like, what makes it worse, what makes it

better, and how bad was it on a scale of 1-10. The following example

answers each of the above as they relate to a stomachache

      Ex: “The pain started two nights ago. I ate food that had been left on

the stove for about 36 hours and began having stomach cramps that

were pretty constant and very painful six hours later. Then, I had eight

very loose and watery stools over a 24-hour period. I did not have a

fever or vomiting. I was not able to work because of the pain in my

stomach was an 8-10 on the pain scale.”

      When you come prepared to speak in the OLDCARTS format doctors

are more likely to engage with you, to be interested in what you are

saying and they are able to get information quickly which will cut

down on their impatience and give them more time to answer your

questions all because you are now speaking their language.

       Coming prepared with your symptoms also helps the provider to

diagnosis you properly, this is very important as 40% of medical

diagnosis are wrong!!! Many of those errors occur because of poor

communication between the doctor and the patient.

      Also when patients speak in this manner it gets the doctors respect

and they know you know something and they had better pay attention

to you.

      Step Three: Again in WDTDJS I supply you with a list of questions

you will want to ask any provider you see to get fully informed consent

about tests, medications and procedures. Come prepared with your 
questions, this will help the doctor to use his or her time better and 
cut down on their impatience with questions.

     Once your questions are written down there may be a nurse,

nurse practitioner or nursing educator who would be more than

qualified to answer your questions and able to give you more

time and refer you to any resources you may need to learn more.

      Finally, let the physician know you are making their answers part of

your personal healthcare record and that you will be showing their

answers to consultants, second opinions, family members and friends.

      When the doctor knows you are recording and documenting their

responses they will be encouraged to answer your questions fully

and honestly because we all know any document can be shown to

a lawyer for later review.

     If these measures do not work and you cannot get your questions

answered you should FIRE your doctor and hire one who will

respect his boss, that's YOU the paying customer. A doctor who

doesn't listen increases your chances of being hurt by a medical

error by up to 80%. A provider like that has no place on

YOUR Healthcare Team