Even with their extensive training and best intent, doctors don’t have the superpowers, and just like the rest of us, they are bound to misconstrue and make mistakes. This is why it’s important for you to take an active role when discussing your care with your primary care doctor.
Asking questions, in particular, puts a message across that you’re involved in your treatment and ensures that you and your primary care doctor are on the same page. Here are some questions that you may want to consider asking your primary care physician when discussing your care.
What are my treatment options?
No two health conditions are the same. That is to say, each of them has a unique treatment approach, despite the fact that they may have overlapping risk factors or characteristics.
Ask your primary care physician for all possible treatment choices and sort it out together. Gone are the days when the decision-making process was unilateral. Patient participation especially in the decision-making process has now—more than ever—become a widely held ethical ideal.
What are the benefits and potential risks of the treatment?
Once your primary care physician informs you about your choices, proceed with asking about the risks and benefits of each of the options. This will make it easier for you to make an informed decision. Take the opportunity to gather information about the side effects, duration of the treatment, and the long-term outlook.
How will the treatment impact my life as a whole?
When asking your physician about the pros and cons of each treatment option, you might as well segue into how it will impact your life as a whole. For example, you have to find out whether the side effects can interfere with your daily activities (driving, tasks at work, etc.), or if the expenses involved in the treatment will eventually crack your nest egg.
When devising a treatment plan, your primary care physician will take everything into consideration, even such practical matters, to ensure continuity of care, and ultimately, a successful, long-term outcome.
What changes do I need to make lifestyle-wise?
Your lifestyle choices—such as whether you smoke or not, what you eat, or how much physical activity you do—account for 70 percent of your risk of developing a chronic illness. They also play a pivotal role in helping you recover from an existing health condition.
Making the necessary changes to your lifestyle is far more important than taking even the most potent medications, so it may prove prudent to include this question in your checklist.
Highly Skilled Primary Care Physician in Tucson, AZ
Dr. Robert E. Lending, M.D., a board-certified internal medicine doctor, and clinic lipidology specialist, prides himself not only on his extensive experience and expertise but also on his compassionate approach. He takes the time to listen and communicate openly and clearly with each of our patients, so they feel comfortable about asking questions and ultimately actively participating in their own care.
At the office of Dr. Robert E. Lending, M.D., our primary care services are unlike any other. With our concierge medical care services, we show our patients that they are VIPS—not mere numbers—and that there is power in the personalized touch of comprehensive, one-on-one healthcare.
To know more about our concierge medical services or to arrange a consultation with Dr. Lending, call us at (520) 795-4291 or you may use our appointment request form. We look forward to providing you with the highest quality of primary care!
