12 Mistakes You Make at the Doctor’s Office

4. Keeping your doctor in the dark about seeing other providers

If you’ve seen other providers — say, a specialist or an urgent care physician — don’t assume your doctor will have that information. “Patients think we know everything — that we have all … right in front of us. That could not be further from the truth. We don’t know who they’ve seen, what they’ve seen them for and what was done,” Appelbaum says.

During my tenure in practice, I regularly had children come in for follow-ups on serious illnesses treated at specialty hospitals — without the slightest bit of information as to what was done or, in some cases, what the diagnosis was. Insist on a summary, or at least a diagnosis and recommended treatment, from any provider you see.

5. Hiding the truth

Providers have heard it all, and the office should be a judgment-free zone. Talking to them about your sexual or drug history, for example, is never off-limits and might be important for your health. Family stressors and domestic violence are other topics to discuss. And those white lies about how much alcohol you drink, what you are eating and how often you exercise can make a difference in your health. A full 80 percent of patients intentionally withheld the truth from their doctors about exercise, alcohol use, medication adherence and diet, according to a study in JAMA Network Open. The reasons? Mainly patients didn’t want to be judged or lectured or were embarrassed. Overcoming any feelings of embarrassment to have honest discussions with your doctor has many benefits: Doctors can more correctly interpret your symptoms and, when medication is needed, prescribe something that is less likely to be harmful.

6. Not knowing your family history

We know a lot more than we used to about how diseases are inherited. It’s never been more important to know details about illness in family members so you can share them with your provider. In my case, a family history of glaucoma led my optometrist to refer me to a specialist, who carefully follows me so I lessen my chances of developing that problem. In addition to providing information vital to diagnosis and treatment, family history helps put questions you might have into context.

7. Not bringing a list of your medications (including doses)

Drugs can interact with each other, and mix-ups do occur. Research has shown nearly half of adults ages 70 to 79 take at least five prescription drugs. Medication errors lead to thousands of hospitalizations and deaths each year — in part because doctors don’t have the full picture of patients’ medications. Remember too that vitamins and supplements can interact with medications, so be sure to include those in your list. “We don’t always know what you’re taking. Be your own health record,” Appelbaum says. If your doctor isn’t asking about your medications, “you need to say something,” Duda adds.

8. Seeing the doctor-patient relationship as a one-way street

Traditionally, conversations between doctors and patients tended to have a “because I said so” ring to them. That’s no longer true. These days, there is (ideally) more collaboration between the two parties. “I feel my doctors want to understand what my situation and needs are,” Duda says. Your circumstances will largely dictate the best approach to caring for yourself. Realize that you have a say.

9. Ignoring the economics of your care

Get the most for your health care dollars. It’s important to ask how much things will cost, what’s covered by insurance and what the alternatives are. “The type of health care coverage that people have definitely has an impact on how likely they are to contact a health care provider,” Gloth says. If some aspect of your treatment isn’t affordable, let your provider know.

10. Leaving without written instructions on medications, wound care, recommended treatments

I fell into this trap after minor surgery. Woozy while coming off anesthesia, I left without even thinking about post-op care. My spouse did have a sheet of instructions, but they got lost after we returned home. Don’t let this happen to you.

11. Leaving without your questions answered

Nothing is more frustrating than leaving the office having forgotten about the one thing that you really wanted to ask your provider. Think about those questions, write them down — and if something concerns you, bring it up early in the visit. “Many times, in an older population, it’s not just a single issue,” Gloth says. “There are many, many issues, and the challenge is to get all the information upfront, rather than when they’re walking out the door.”

12. Not using office staff

If your doctor has to move on to the next patient — or if something comes up while you’re home and the provider’s not available — the office nurse, medical assistant or front-desk person may have handled something very similar on other patients. Develop a good relationship with other members of your provider’s team, and don’t hesitate to use them when needed.

Knowing how to communicate and work with your doctor isn’t easy, and it’s no surprise that we all (myself included) are prone to making mistakes in our interactions. If we strive to get better at avoiding the gaffes, that will go a long way to improving our encounters — and, it follows, our health outcomes.