Play an advocacy roles when communicating with medical staff

Be a strong advocate for the patient in your care

In this role, your job is to make the patient as comfortable as possible -- and that may mean insisting that the doctor pay attention and take action. "You need to hone your basic communication skills so you can say clearly and directly, 'This is what's interfering with his quality of life right now,'" says Keyssar, "and describe in detail what's happening, when it's happening, and what seems to make it worse or better."
• Being a team player It's best not to be antagonistic. In fact, it helps if you can develop a friendship with the person you're most likely to deal with on the phone, whether it's the doctor, a nurse, a nurse practitioner, or the office manager. Stay calm and assume that you're all on the same side and want what's best for the patient.

Be a strong advocate for the doctor, too

It's likely that the person you're caring for isn't always going to be the ideal patient. He may resist treatment, forget to take medicines, or refuse to follow the doctor's advice to get more exercise or stop smoking. When this happens, your role is to be on the doctor's side. After all, the goal is for the patient to feel better.
• Working together When the doctor recommends behavior changes, offer assurance on the spot that you're going to work with the patient to follow the recommendations. This may require some strategizing between you and his doctor -- even out of the patient's earshot. A quick side conversation about your efforts to encourage him to comply with treatment recommendations may give you some new ideas and lets the doctor know that you're doing everything you can to support her.