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Caregivers Must Prepare for Doctor Visits

Planning is key to successful health care for the elderly

By John Boden

December 5, 2008

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Planning for a visit to the doctor is the secret to its success, whether it is for you or your parent. An ounce of preparation is worth a pound of cure. First, why are you going? Is it for a new or acute issue, a follow-up from a previous visit or hospitalization, a routine visit for a chronic condition, or a physical check-up?

In every case you should prepare a list of all medications with the dosage, time taken, why it was prescribed, and the doctor who prescribed it. Include over-the-counter medications, vitamins, and supplements. Make a copy to leave with the doctor and one for you to refer to while in the office.

Have copies of all insurance cards for the office staff, even if there have been no changes, and be ready to make any co-payments if required, a big issues at the beginning of each year.

Have a copy of all Healthcare Advanced Directives (Living Will, etc.), if they do not already have them or if there have been changes. Make a list of any medical events, illnesses, or new doctors, as well as your questions and concerns.

You should be included when the doctor is asking questions and when they are giving instructions for the plan of care. Let your elder provide the answers, and only intervene when their answer is inaccurate or incomplete. It may or may not be necessary for you to be present during the physical portion of the exam and the wishes of the elder in this matter should be given the highest priority.

Be ready to take notes during your discussion with the doctor to assure that you do not forget important items such as adding, discontinuing, or changing dosages of medications. Do not hesitate to ask for the correct spelling of medications or diagnoses. Before the visit is ended, you should always ask, ”Is there any other question I should have asked?”

When you are unable to be present due to distance, illness, work, or other causes, be sure to call the doctor’s office to let them know you cannot be at the visit and, therefore, are sending them the information to ensure that the doctor will see it prior to your parent’s visit. Include instructions on how they can reply to you with the results of the visit. Also give a copy of everything to your parent or whoever else who may be taking them to this doctor visit.

If it is the first visit to this particular doctor, or if it is the result of acute illness, you should also list the symptoms, when they started, previous occurrences of similar symptoms, all existing diagnoses, and the physicians who are treating the patient.

For follow or post-hospitalization visits, list any changes, good and bad. List your questions about prognosis, possible drug reactions, and diet or lifestyle changes that may be needed.

It is important to remember that the doctor is very busy and will appreciate the efforts you made in preparation for the visit. The time you save them by having the answers to their questions ready and available is time they can then spend providing you with the answers to your questions.

Whether you are in the office or making arrangements from a distance, get the address, phone, fax, e-mail, and most important get the names of the staff and their duties. When you next contact the doctor’s office you will get a lot further when you ask by name for the person who can take care of your request. Remember it is best to get everyone onto the caregiving team.

John Boden, a longtime geriatric care manager, is president of LifeLedger.com, a Web site for family caregivers.

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