A good visit to the doctor

As a caregiver, the most frustrating doctor appointments are when the doc is rushed and unsympathetic to the fact that it may take my parents a bit longer to really understand the condition, diagnosis or care instructions.  They are reluctant to "take up the doctor's time" by asking him/her to repeat or go slower.  And sometimes the doc perpetuates that by never sitting down and doing his/her best to buzz through the appointment, even though it's clear to me that doing so is not helping the patients (my parents). 

Honestly my best advice for getting the most of an appointment is taking someone with you.  I'm also a huge fan of bringing a pad of paper and pencil.  We've been lucky enough that sometimes the docs will do the writing!  That's been so amazingly helpful!

I think the key to making the most of doctors' appointments is that old Boy Scout motto: BE PREPARED. There's so much pressure on doctors to keep appointment times short that they're often far too rushed to spend enough time with you and your parents.

Of course, caregivers are short on time, too, but a little advance prep work can go a long way. If you can, set aside a few minutes before the appointment to jot down questions that you and your parent want to ask. Some caregivers find it helpful to keep a notebook with sections for each doctor; you can file your questions and notes from each appointment for future reference.

Missy, you're right on the money: paper and pencil are key. And I'd suggest going one step further and bringing a handheld tape recorder along. Sometimes it's easier to actively participate if you're not hurriedly taking notes throughout the appointment.

One last thing to keep in mind: if you have questions after the appointment, don't be afraid to call or e-mail the doctor. If you're anything like me, you're usually so busy trying to process information that you can't think of what to ask...but three hours later, you'll find yourself slapping your forehead and cursing yourself for not asking about possible side effects of that new medication.