by Rona S. Bartelstone, LCSW, BCD, CMC, C-ASWCM

1. Prepare and take with you a list of all medications, the dosage and the doctor who prescribed them. Include supplements and any over-the-counter treatments you take, no matter how benign you think they are. Many of these medications interact adversely with prescription medications.
2. Provide each doctor with a list of other doctors you are seeing.
3. Write down any questions you may have so you don’t forget to ask them.
4. Take a pad to write down the answers to your questions. If you don’t understand the answer, ask the question in a different way or ask for clarification.
5. Tell your doctor all of your concerns. Many people go to the doctor and forget or choose to talk about only limited concerns.
6. Remember to tell the doctor about any allergies you may have or prior adverse reactions to medication or foods.
7. Be honest about things like eating, drinking, bathroom and sleeping habits. Changes or problems could be indications of a more serious problem.
8. If a new treatment is recommended, discuss possible side effects, outcomes, risks and be sure you know the alternatives prior to making a decision.
9. If you continue to be confused, ask for written material about your condition or recommended treatments so that you can review them with family members.
10. Take someone with you! If you don’t have a family member or trusted friend, take your care manager so that you will have someone who can help you with understanding and follow-up care.