3 Questions to Ask Your Healthcare Provider
When it comes to being healthy, doctor visits are required. We visit the eye doctor to promote good eye health and a family physician when we get sick or something is going on that we are unsure of. We rely on physicians to provide us with the best care, ensuring we take the right measures for our overall health and well-being. In the healthcare industry, Patient Safety Awareness Week was created to provide a dedicated time as well as a platform to increase patient safety awareness among health care professionals as well as the public. This year, the special week takes place from March 11th until the 17th.
While healthcare providers are taught patient safety during schooling as well as continual training through their medical careers, patients are not often aware of how to stay safe. It is important to know what questions to ask a physician to live a safe and healthy lifestyle. Below are three examples of questions you should be asking your health care provider.
How Familiar Are You with This Condition or Treatment?
As a patient, if you are diagnosed with a condition or need for treatment based on a disease, ask your doctor how familiar they are with the subject. For your safety and health needs, your physician needs to have experience with the condition or treatment type. If they do not have experience in this area, they should recommend you to another physician that specializes in your specific health need. Do not be afraid to ask your physician about their experience so that you can feel comfortable with a diagnosis or treatment suggestion.
You want to feel that you are getting the best care. It is not wise or safe to have a misdiagnosis or wrong treatment provided if the healthcare provider is not familiar with your issues or condition.
What is Your Success Rate?
If you are a cancer patient or have another serious medical condition, you want to work with a physician that will be able to provide you with the best care. Once diagnosed with a condition, ask your healthcare provider about their success rate in treating the condition. Is their success rate good? Do they know everything there is to know about the condition? Working with a physician that has a good success rate for treatment will ensure that you can treat the diagnosis the best way possible based on proven success.
Are You Sure?
Never feel that you cannot ask for a second opinion or perhaps more information on a diagnosis from your physician. Feel free to ask questions and raise concerns about what your physician is telling you. A good physician will tell you their opinion but respect yours if you feel that you need to consult with another physician. Asking if the physician is sure about your diagnosis or requesting additional testing is totally within your rights as a patient.
It is important to feel comfortable with your physician and be able to ask questions when you feel unsure about anything. A quality physician will answer all your questions and concerns, helping you to feel more at ease about what is going on as well as help you with a second opinion or providing you with additional testing.
These are just a few questions you can ask your physician to promote a safe patient environment. When visiting your physician, write down any questions or concerns you may have. It is easy to be taking to your doctor during an appointment and forget what you wanted to say. By writing down questions and having information at your disposal, you can cover every aspect of what you wanted to discuss.
Finding the right physician for your health needs is a must. If you are visiting a doctor and do not feel comfortable, find someone else to see. Do not stay with a physician when you feel unsafe or uncomfortable. Research your options and find the best physician for your overall health needs and well-being.
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