The Empowered Patient: 5 Questions That Can Benefit Your Health

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4/12/2018

Halee Fischer-Wright, MD, MMM, FAAP, FACMPE

When you go to a doctor’s appointment, it can seem like you’re playing “Beat the Clock.” You may spend more time in the waiting room than you do in the presence of your doctor, and it can be challenging to explain the reason for your visit, receive treatment and ask every question on your mind in the allotted time.

If you feel rushed, you’re not alone. A classic study found patients were able to finish their “opening statements of concern” only 23% of the time.1 Another often-cited study determined patients speak on average for only 12 seconds before the doctor interrupts.2

Even if you’re aware of the line of the patients behind you, or feel pressed to get back to work, keep this in mind: We’ve entered the age of the empowered patient, where doctors expect and many like the notion you regard yourself as the guardian of your own health, rather than a passive recipient of care.

Apart from the daily concerns about what may be going right or wrong with your health, take a moment to ask your doctor five questions that can improve your well-being and strengthen your relationship with your doctor over the long run:

Can we communicate electronically via secured email or an online portal?

If you have a rash on your face, you might want to email your doctor a photo of the condition before you hurry down to his office — and lots of doctors are happy to do a virtual examination.

In one recent study, 37% of patients reported contacting their physicians via email within the last six months and 18% through Facebook.3

Initially, many doctors resisted the notion of password-protected portals where patients can look up test results, refill medication, schedule appointments and ask questions. The doctors felt that either patients would be confused by the information or deluge them with questions, but neither concern materialized. Online communications are a valuable tool to ask follow-ups or bring up issues that slipped your mind during the visit.

Will you share my medical records digitally with other providers if I request it?

Less than one in three U.S. hospitals have the ability to find, send and receive electronic medical records for patients who receive care somewhere else, according to a recent study.4 The inability to share records in a digital format can have many unfortunate consequences, from needing to re-order tests that were already done to having insufficient information to evaluate a problem.

At a minimum, you should have access to your lab work, test results and other health data through an online portal, which you can then enter into your own online Personal Health Record (PHR) – a central repository of health information that many patients are keeping. That’s a smart thing to do, but ideally your doctor should be able to share your records digitally as well.

Would you be interested in discussing the results of a DNA test that assesses my susceptibility to certain medical conditions?

Last year, the Food and Drug Administration approved the first home DNA tests, which let people know if they have genetic risk for certain diseases like Parkinson’s and Alzheimer’s.5

While growing in popularity, these tests are controversial and complex. No test can definitively tell if someone will get a disease, but the results may motivate changes in diet or habits that contribute to the risk of contracting a particular disease.

Some patients are scheduling appointments with doctors or genetic counselors to discuss the results of DNA tests, but keep in mind the field is so new that not every doctor knows what to do with DNA information.

What are the risks to me of making personal health decisions based upon articles I read on medical wiki sites such as WebMD?

Most people use the Internet before they check into a doctor’s office these days. About 60% of people conduct research before a doctor’s appointment and 62% educate themselves about a treatment the doctor prescribes.6

You might worry that doctors will be upset about being double-checked, but most physicians actually like an engaged patient. At the same time, doctors are understandably concerned when patients use dubious sources of information or try to diagnose themselves.

Preferably, your doctor should be willing to listen to your ideas and research and guide you on where to find the best sources of health information.

When making personal lifestyle decisions about my health, including diet and fitness, should I be thinking primarily about my immediate goals or maybe three-to-five years ahead?

Many people have trouble thinking about the future – for example, even if we know exercise is good for us, some people start a heart exercise program only after a heart attack.

While many medical conditions require immediate action, most doctors are delighted when patients bring up their long-term health. Doctors would rather help you avoid a problem than treat it after the fact.

In the age of the empowered patient, you are the star and the doctor plays a supporting, albeit critical role. Seek out care-givers who want to work with you. Part of your job is to use the scarce face-to-face time you have with a doctor most effectively, and these five questions can let the doctor know you view safeguarding and improving your health as a collaborative effort.

Sources

Written By

Halee Fischer-Wright, MD, MMM, FAAP, FACMPE

Halee Fischer-Wright, MD, MMM, FAAP, FACMPE is President and Chief Executive Officer of the Medical Group Management Association (MGMA). For nearly 90 years, MGMA has been the largest association for medical practice administrators and executives in the U.S. Dr. Halee Fischer-Wright, a nationally respected healthcare executive and physician leader was most recently, the former Chief Medical Officer for St. Anthony North Health Campus, part of the Centura Health System. Dr. Fischer-Wright’s work focuses on medical management innovation and creating cultures of excellence. She’s led transformation of physician culture as well as performance improvement for clinics, hospitals, and systems. Her efforts focused on ensuring value based performance—achieving the highest possible patient experience, medical quality and patient safety while managing the costs of health care delivery across the health care continuum. Dr. Fischer-Wright’s career in practice management began when she opened her first successful medical practice. Building on personal experience and a desire to develop systems of excellence, she became the President of Rose Medical Group- a 680 physicians PHO/MSO in Denver for over 12 years. Dr. Fischer-Wright brings many unique experiences and skills to MGMA including her time as a management consultant, (focused on high performance teams and strategic development with tactical execution.) It is during her consulting work that she co-authored the New York Times bestselling book, Tribal Leadership.