Making the most of your appointments

Appointments with doctors, nurses, physiotherapists, or other healthcare providers are an important part your health care journey. Mixed messages, unclear plans and long wait times can mean that these appointments don’t always go as expected, and you may not get what you need.

As a partner in your own health care, preparing and being organised can turn around those unhelpful appointments. This information may also assist family, friends and carers to support people living with MS at their appointments.

Here’s some top tips for getting the most of appointments with your healthcare professional:

Manage your time

• Be on time, you may need to wait but you’ll likely feel less flustered.

• Plan for possible waiting time. Relax in the waiting room with a good book or listen to podcast.

• Know that you may not get a lot of time with the doctor, and you will need to make the most of it. To make the most of it you can:

• Tell your story in order of how things happened, take notes in advance so its succinct.

• Pick your one or two top priorities to discuss and get them covered first.

Be clear on your expectations

• Be clear in your mind what you want and expect from your visit. Do you need talk about a problem, check inn your progress, know the latest research and information available or just want paperwork completed.

• Establish shared responsibilities and who is looking after what (for example results of tests - is it your GP, nurse, neurologist, you).

• Know when it’s not working and when to find someone else. Be realistic, you can’t have a good relationship with everyone and that’s ok.

Remove some of the barriers to good communication

• Always be honest about your health

• Bring any tests results with you, ask for your test results or how you can access them (taking photos of results on your phone can be handy)

• Ask if there are other ways to find out the information you may need. For example, could a nurse, good internet site or research information be helpful.

• Confirm the plan at the end of the appointment – you could use a form you already created that has a few things to tick off like do I need an MRI, blood test or new medication.

• Be realistic about the communication between health care professionals. Letters often take weeks, having your plan written down will ensure you are in control.

Organise your appointment admin

• Have the contact details of any health care providers you see. You could store these details in your phone or in a folder.

• If you need repeat scripts for medications have all the details ready.

• If you want a form completed, have it prepared and make sure you allow time to get it back to you.

• Wear the comfortable clothes, slip on shoes and bring your glasses.

• Bring a friend (they could take notes for you).

• Arrive hydrated – you may need a blood test.

• Clarify parking arrangements and other appointment details before the appointment.

• Be kind.

Appointments with your medical team may be few and far between, and there may not be time to have all your questions answered. Join Clinical Nurse, Louise Rath as she provides an overview on how to prepare for your appointments and how to make the most of the time you have with your medical specialist.

Presenter

Louise Rath is a clinical nurse consultant at The Alfred hospital.

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