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- Prepare for your appointment. Please let me know at the beginning of the visit what your major concerns are and what you hope to get from our visit. This allows us to use the time to best meet your needs. For example, "Dr. Sobel, I have three concerns to discuss today, 1. …2….3…..” In describing your symptoms try to be concise and specific. In well over 70% of cases a thoughtful description of symptoms alone leads to a correct diagnosis.
- Honesty. The more I know about what you are actually feeling and doing the better I can help you. If there are issues at home or work affecting your health let me know. I need to know what you have already tried to manage your symptoms (including any over-the-counter and alternative medicine treatments). I need to know what your concerns or fears are about your symptoms or any treatments I might recommend. I need to know what you think might be causing your symptoms.
- Please try to keep our scheduled appointments. If you can’t keep the appointment call and reschedule it so that I don’t worry about you and so that other patients can use the time.
- Do your part. This includes taking agreed upon medications, making a good faith effort to improve your lifestyle to protect your health, and learning more about your medical conditions. A good place to start is my Physician’s Home Page, in your copy of the Kaiser Permanente Healthwise Handbook, the Health Encyclopedia on kp.org, and the Healthphone tapes.
- Ask questions. If I say something you don’t understand, please ask me to explain it.
- Let me know how well I am doing in meeting your needs. I want our partnership to be great and I need your encouragement and feedback to do a better job. Thanks.
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