Page 47 - LIVESTRONG Digital Guidebook

Keep an up-to-date list of your medications Write down the following information for
and dosages. Include all vitamins, supplements and your next appointment with your health
over-the-counter medications you take in your list. care provider:
Review this list with your provider at each of your
appointments. Some patients find that it works best  Concerns and things you want to know
to bring all of their medicine containers with pre-  New symptoms, side effects and pain problems
scription information to all medical appointments.  Current medications and dosages
This is especially true if you take medications for  Other treatments you have had such as
other problems such as diabetes or heart conditions.
acupuncture or massage
Be sure to tell your provider about any allergies,  Current list of food supplements
side effects or reactions to medications you have  Emotional concerns such as depression
had in the past. This information is very important
when starting treatment with new doctors or during what you have tried to do to relieve the pain and how
any visits to the emergency room. well it worked. Share this information with the provider.

Let your health care team know if there is anything GETTING AN INTERPRETER
you do not understand. Feel free to bring up concerns
that you have. Write down information you are given
or specific instructions you need to follow as part of
your care. You can also ask your health care team
members to write down the information for you.

KEEPING TRACK OF INFORMATION Some people have a hearing loss. Others speak and
understand a language that is not the same as that
It can be difficult to remember all that your health care of the health care team. If either of these is true for
team tells you. This may be even harder to do if you are you, ask your health care provider to arrange for an
stressed or not feeling well. Yet it is important to keep interpreter during appointments.
track of the information you are given such as how to
take medications and when to contact your provider. An interpreter can ensure that both you and
the health care provider understand one another.
You may find it helpful to have someone take Do not use a child to interpret because a child is
notes for you during appointments. If there is no not able to accurately understand or describe
one who can go with you, ask a nurse, navigator or medical issues. It also may be difficult for a teen
social worker to help you. Many providers now to discuss medical issues with a parent or family
allow patients to record their discussions. That member. If you need an interpreter, ask a nurse or
makes it easy to go back later and listen to the social worker to set up this service. Many states
information that was provided. Talk with your pro- now require that large hospitals and cancer centers
vider about any plans to record your meetings. have interpreters available to assist patients.

EMERGENCIES HEALTH CARE PROVIDER
POLICIES AND PROCEDURES
Call your health care provider right away if you
experience pain or fever. Use words to describe how the Every health care provider has their own policies and
pain feels such as “burning,” “aching” or “sharp.” Tell the procedures set up to handle patient needs. Ask about
provider how often you have pain. Also, keep track of these during your first meeting with the provider.

“Take somebody with you when you go to the doctor, somebody who knows

how to listen to what the doctor is saying. I did not hear the important

information until way later. I was not as keyed in to how important it was

for me to do things I needed to do in terms of the treatment plan.” —SUSAN C.

www.LIVESTRONG.org/WeCanHelp JUST DIAGNOSED: MEDICAL CONCERNS 47