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Your Health
By Lisa M. Petsche
Working with the Pros
How to build good relationships with health care providers
As you age, especially if you’re also caring for someone
with a chronic illness,you may come in contact
with a variety of health care providers — doctors,
nurses and allied professionals such as physiotherapists
and occupational therapists.You’ll meet these professionals
in a variety of settings: at home and in clinics, hospitals and
long-term care facilities.
Health care today is viewed as a partnership between
patient and provider, with both parties responsible for
ensuring constructive relationships.Patients and caregivers
are taking a more active role than ever before.
Good communication is essential to any positive relationship.To
make the most of interactions with health care
professionals keep some key things in mind:
Prepare questions in advance and prioritize them. Learn
about your loved one’s health condition(s) to facilitate communication
with the pros. (Just don’t try to be an expert.)
If you or your loved one has a hearing or vision impairment,let
the professional know at the outset of the conversation.
September 2008 • 26 • Fifty-Five Plus Magazine
Understand the roles of all professionals involved and
ask about their goals and plans for your loved one.You may
need to adjust your expectations or negotiate changes to
the care plan.
Make sure you are dealing with the right person by
briefly stating the nature of any questions or concerns. If
this person can’t help you, ask who can.
If you have multiple questions or a major concern,
establish that the professional has time to talk.If not,schedule
an appropriate time for a discussion.
When making telephone contact, be prepared to leave
a concise voice mail message. Include date and time, your
name and your loved one’s name, the nature of your relationship,
the subject of your call, a daytime telephone number
and the best time to reach you. If either of you is hard
to reach, ask for an appointment to talk by telephone or in
person.
Write down key information provided during conversations
and conferences. Request a layman’s explanation
when necessary.