When you’re at your doctor’s office, you might find it hard to speak up for yourself. You might be focused on anxious thoughts about the health concern that brought you there. And on top of that, sometimes there’s a cultural belief that the doctor is the expert, and you’re not supposed to question that authority. “It’s similar to when you find it hard to stand up to or question your boss at work,” said兰迪·盖洛（Randy Gelow），医学博士，家庭医生Banner Health Center在凤凰城。
But when you’re talking to your doctor, it’s important that you advocate for yourself. “First of all, it’s in your best interest,” Gelow said. “And, no one person can know everything. Bringing up alternative ideas can help your doctor come up with ideas they normally wouldn’t have thought about.”
List out your questions ahead of time
列出您的问题或疑虑。在预约之前，请记住您的想法 - 您的手机上的Note应用程序是存储想法的好工具。即使感觉像是一个漫长的清单，它也可以帮助您的约会更有条理。Gelow建议打印出问题列表并与您的提供商共享，以便您可以一起浏览它们。问题清单可以帮助您和您的提供者都感到匆忙。
When you ask questions, you help your doctor understand what you’re concerned about. Then, they can explain whether your concerns are plausible. Their answers can help ease your mind.
Be specific and include details
Sharing a lot of information with your doctor can help them get to the bottom of your problem. If you see your doctor for头痛, for example, share details such as how often you are having headaches, when they started,你脑海中的哪里you are experiencing pain, how painful they are and what you think might be triggering them.
安排约会时说明您的担忧
Your provider’s staff will schedule an appointment for a certain length of time based on your symptoms or needs. If you are seeing your doctor for an年度健康检查例如，您可能无法在该约会中讨论其他问题。
It’s important to tell the scheduler if you have other concerns so they can book the appointment appropriately and allow time for your provider to answer all your questions. Other things that may need to be addressed at the same time as your annual wellness exam may includeback pain,沉重的时期or any other concerns.
及时建立预约
在约会开始之前露面是尊重医生的时间，这也对您有所帮助。如果您感到压力很晚，您不会与医生进行良好的沟通。
认识到您可能不同意您的医生
It’s OK if you don’t agree with your provider. But disagreeing may make you feel defensive or confrontational, and you might be tempted to accuse your provider of not treating you correctly. A better strategy is to ask questions to see what other options might make sense. “This is much less threatening and can open up a dialogue that can help both of you,” Gelow said.
与您的医生建立良好的融洽关系
如果您知道并信任您的提供商，就可以更容易地自己提倡。要与您的提供商建立和保持牢固的关系，请每年至少见一次健康考试。“那annual check-in可以帮助建立融洽的关系，因此，如果以及当其他健康问题浮出水面时，您的提供者已经熟悉您的健康史。” Gelow说。
See your same provider as much as possible for any medical concerns that aren’t urgent or emergencies. If you have a sore knee or a minor rash, for example, turn to your primary care provider first. “There is a lot your provider knows about you that isn’t contained in your medical record that can help them come up with the best treatment plan for you,” Gelow said. “If you have a long-term relationship with a provider, they often know more about you than you think. Don’t forget that they are considering your entire mental and medical health history when they suggest plans to help you.”
知道什么时候该去找新医生
Not every provider and every patient are a good match. If you constantly feel like you are rushed, your provider isn’t listening, you can’t ask questions or you don’t have time to get through your list of questions, you may want to找到新的提供商.
The bottom line
You might find it challenging to speak up for yourself when you visit your doctor. But it’s essential to make sure your doctor answers your questions and addresses your concerns. If you would like to与初级保健提供者联系，接触横幅健康。主頁(欢迎您)
Other useful articles
- 5 Tips for Easier Visits with Your Doctor
- Should I Get a Second Opinion?
- 5 Things to Know About Your Electronic Health Record
