Recently, I’ve come across several articles about misdiagnosis and they all have the same pattern. After months (even years) of doctors invalidating and trivializing symptoms in the end the patient was right. There was a valid reason for their concerns. It turns out their symptoms were the result of cancer or some other life-threatening condition. Granted the articles are one-sided and told from the patient’s perspective, but it does shed light on the doctor/patient relationship.
The question that naturally arises is what do we as patients – and parents of patients – do to avoid this scenario? How do we increase our chances of being heard and diagnosed correctly?
To find answers I went directly to the source and talked to a doctor – I will include the entire conversation in another post. But based on our chat, I’ve realized we need to be better prepared for our doctor’s visits. Truthfully, how often do we actually prepare? I know I generally don’t. I’m expecting the doctor to solve my problems based on what I’m telling him. Shockingly, sometimes I may not be a hundred percent accurate because memory isn’t always a reliable witness.
To aid in our preparation, I’ve compiled a list of 4 ways we can be better prepared for our next doctor’s appointment. Bear in mind, I’m talking specifically about when we have health concerns and not necessarily for a well-check visit…unless there are concerns.
Step 1: Know the why
Even before stepping foot into the doctor’s office, know why we are there in the first place. What questions are we looking to get answers for? Maybe it’s not one specific issue but a host of behaviors that have caused concern. For example, if our child seems lethargic, has no appetite, is sleeping a lot and yet doesn’t have a fever. The question we want the doctor to answer is: What’s causing these symptoms?
If we’re seeing the doctor for a bug bite that hasn’t gone away after several days. The question we want to ask is: Why hasn’t the bug bite gone away?
Know preciously what question the doctor needs to answer. Listing off all our symptoms and expecting the doctor to automatically know the question like he’s a contestant on Jeopardy isn’t the best strategy. Not to mention doctors aren’t mind readers.
Step 2: Gather data
Gather as much data as possible to paint the most accurate picture of what’s going on. This step can be done in several ways.
If there are concerns about our child’s eating, start a food diary. Keep a record of what, when and how much he’s eating. Do this for several days, so there’s a clear picture of the problem.
If our child suddenly seems lethargic, start an activity log and write down how often and for how long he sleeps or naps during the day. Again, do this for several days.
Taking pictures is another way to document the problem, especially if it’s a rash or other skin problems. Better still, take several pictures on different days and at various angles. Go the extra mile and take measurements, and see if it changes. Write down how many days the rash appeared. Include anything that happened out of the ordinary, whether that’s eating or even doing something new. Having a picture guarantees the doctor will see the issue even if it’s no longer visible – which tends to happen a lot.
Video’s also makes great witnesses by allowing the doctor to see the concerning behavior for themselves. Recording my daughter’s first seizure would’ve been more beneficial to the doctor than my verbal description. Unfortunately, cell phones weren’t as sophisticated back then as they are now and I had no easy way to record her.
Taking time to gather evidence gives the doctor solid facts. It’s way more reliable than memory alone and detailed documentation increases the likelihood of getting a proper diagnosis.
Step 3: Write it down
Knowing the why and gathering data is useless if we forget to bring up the issue. That’s why step 3 is important: Write it down. Even if we think there’s no way we’re going to forget, sometimes we do. Memory can be fickle. Writing it down guarantees nothing will be forgotten. And double-checking the list before leaving the exam room ensures all concerns were discussed.
Step 4: Follow-up
An often-forgotten step is to keep the doctor informed. If he’s made recommendations or given a treatment plan, let him know how it’s going. If there’s no follow-up, the doctor has no way of knowing and updating the medical chart. Keeping the doctor in the loop not only means our medical charts are thorough but it ensures this information is there for all future medical providers, placing them in a better position to help us. There’s no need to make an appointment to do this step, a simple call or email will suffice.
The bottom line
Playing an active role increases the chances of getting better medical treatment. And it starts with a little planning. Always know why we are seeing the doctor and what questions we want answered. If possible, try to gather some evidence of the issues we’re concerned about. Giving the doctor tangible evidence to analyze is so much better than relying solely on our memory.
Before going to the appointment, write down all concerns. This guarantees no question will be left unasked – unless we forget to look at the list of course. And lastly, follow-up. It’s important to remember the appointment extends beyond the physical office. Follow-up is also a part of the doctor visit. Keeping the doctor informed about the success or even failure of any treatment plan is in our best interest.
The bottom line is, if we all work together perhaps we can avoid some of the situations I’ve read about in those articles.