Tips and Tricks for Going to Medical Appointments With Your Loved Ones
Sometimes it’s hard to know when it’s time for you to start going to medical appointments with your loved ones. It is important to balance your loved ones need for independence and privacy with your need to hear straight from the horse/doctor’s mouth. I encourage you to sit down with your loved one and have an open and honest conversation with them on this subject. After it has been agreed upon that you will accompany them to their doctor’s appointments consider doing the following:
Tips for before the appointment: -Create a special email address that is especially meant for managing all things to do with your loved ones medical needs. All co-caretakers should have access to this account. Most medical offices now email whenever there is new information in the Patient’s portal. Example: JaneDoeHealth@gmail.com -Call the medical office and have onhand the following information: loved ones full legal name, date of birth, and name of insurance plan. Identify yourself as the loved one’s designated health agent. Explain that you will be accompanying them to their next appointment, confirm the appointment time and date, supply them with the new email address that has been created to manage your loved one’s medical affairs, and inquire if their office uses a patient portal. If the answer is yes, ask for assistance in setting the portal up. -Sign into the portal, and check for any updates. Review with your loved one the following information and questions (take notes, that you will be able to have on hand during the appointment) -List all of their diagnosis (diabetes, high blood pressure, high cholesterol) -List all of their medications, supplements, and vitamins (Use your phone to take picture of each bottle) -Since their last visit have they made any of the changes or followed the recommendations given during their last visit (weight gain or loss, started prescribed medications, or ordered equipment-like a walker)
During the Appointment: -Ask doctor to check/review list of diagnosis -Ask doctor to check/review list of medication -Ask the doctor to give a formal plan of care
After the Appointment: -Take the time to ask the Patient what were points that stood out to them during the appointment (take notes) -Send an updated list of patient’s diagnosis, medications, and summary of patient’s care plan to the group email -Have a meeting with all family members and Patient to review Patient’s plan of care.
DISCLAIMER: THIS BLOG IS GIVING MEDICAL SUGGESTIONS, WHICH CANNOT REPLACE MEDICAL TREATMENT. IF YOU ARE IN NEED OF URGENT MEDICAL CARE DO NOT DELAY TREATMENT. SEEK TREATMENT NOW.
