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	Newsletter  Dec. 2008 "As Your health knowledge increases, your level of medical care increases dramatically ..... you'll recognize better treatment when you get it."    Dr. Graham http://www.healthcare-toolbox.com Newsletter  Dec. 2008   Issue 104 You're receiving this newsletter because you signed up, and you  desired to learn strategies and tactics you can use to obtain top health care anywhere, anytime. ********** Hi {!firstname}, Are you a cold weather football fan? I can remember the cold wind and snow blowing off Lake Erie in my high school and college football playing days. It was something that was accepted and a way of life---and enjoyable--but not at the time. My wife's hip replacement surgery in a few days should keep me occupied for the next month helping her along. Our Christmas time will still be just fine she tells me, but can't help worrying some about her recovery as you may well imagine. Linda and I wish you a happy, enjoyable, and safe holiday season. My newsletter agenda today: 1. Article--"How To Make Your 8 Minute Visit With Your Doctor      Count" (Part 1 of 3) 2. Look at what's coming next. 3. Medical tips. 4. Resources for learning. 5. Feedback responses. 1. Article: "How To Make Your Eight Minute Visit With Your Doctor Count"  (Part 1 of 3) By Curt Graham, M.D.      Aggravated?  Are you just plain tired of putting up with not having enough time with your doctor?  You had a dozen questions to ask and he or she only answered 4 of them.       Even following the doctor out into the hall with your exam gown still on and yelling at the doctor walking away that you had a lot more medical problems to discuss, would only embarrass you and mark you as a belligerent patient---what the hell, do it! Maybe it would work.      Yes, there are some unique and appropriate ways to meet your needs without resorting to nasty phone calls, or responses.  Aren’t you relieved, even just a little bit, to hear those words?  Now, can you believe them?  This advice is given free.  Take it for what it’s worth from a physician who is a strong patient advocate. Have You Been Shortchanged?      The 45 minute wait to see the doctor, and 8 minutes with the doctor, does not seem worth it, at times.  If you are writhing in pain, there's no alternative.  When your problem is that severe, any good office assistant would immediately have the doctor see you.  Routine "too short" doctor visits for whatever medical reason are at the root of the problem.       It takes a bit of understanding by the medical patient as to how the “short” doctor visits have come about in the practice of medicine.  It may not excuse it.  Can patients change it?  No. But, as with many things, if you know why something is happening, it's more acceptable and tolerable.  For example, is the doctor ill?  Was he/she suddenly called to the emergency room to see an injured patient?  Back office nurses and medical assistants worth their salt should be right there to explain why your time with the doctor had to be cut short.  Powerful Visit Strategies you can do to save time that is often wasted on issues that can be handled with a little preparation:   Put your visit plan in writing. Start with your most important medical problem or question, and prioritize the rest.   Make a list of all of the prescription medications, herbal medicines, and non-prescription meds you take on a regular basis. Have a copy in your purse and a copy to give to the nurse.   Fill out or update the history form they hand to you in detail. Doctor's often review your chart info before they enter the exam room. Suddenly coming up with new uncharted medical problems in the middle of the visit brings the whole visit to a halt and often never provides time to get back to the main medical problem you came in for.   Prioritize your written questions. The top 3 usually get taken care of.  Those below often are left for a later visit.   Avoid small talk. The old days are gone. No longer are doctors about to spend extra time explaining what he did on his vacation. If you need to know---ask the office staff.   Studies have shown that the average actual time spent with the doctor on an office visit  is 8 minutes.         A typical office visit with the doctor is interrupted within the first 27 seconds of the doctor being in the room with you.  This tells you you either plan the time to be used efficiently or be disappointed.       What can you do to plan?  Use strategy (discussed in another newsletter) in making your appointments.        Make notes of all your medical symptoms described in good detail to be handed to the nurse or medical assistant.  In the exam room it is easy to forget certain bothersome symptoms.       Prioritize your medical questions as to importance to you on that sheet of paper.  If there is not time to get to them all, at least you will have covered the critical ones.  Remember that you can schedule another visit to complete your list of medical questions later.      Be sure to arrive “on time” or "early" for your appointment.  If the patient scheduled ahead of you cancelled, then you may be moved directly into the exam room without having to wait at all.      The conflicts and interactions of medications, and medication side effects, prescribed today are immense.  A detailed list of your prescription medications, pill size and dosage, and how often you take them is critical.  Most patients cannot remember all this, especially if they are on many medications.  Carry a list with you at all times in your wallet or purse.      In an emergency you may not be conscious to tell the doctor or paramedic anything.  Your marital partner and your children, often do not know what you take. Hand the list to the nurse in the exam room, as it saves lots of time for her to record them separately.      Be very detailed in the information you put on the chart history form.  Doctors often scan that before entering the exam room.  Keep it updated for your doctor.  You have no idea how important that the medical history is for doctors to evaluate a symptom, prescribe a medication (are you allergic?), and make a correct diagnosis on the spot.          Make a decision for yourself not to use up a large part of your time with the doctor talking about his or your vacation or hobbies.  Make up your mind that medicine is not like the old days where the old doctor and you were friends as well as being a patient.  To find a doctor like that today, is equivalent to finding a pot of gold.  But, his patients may have a very long wait in the waiting room while you talk about old times. These are the things I've found to be true. Part Two: Techniques to easily manage your visit with the doctor, in the exam room.  Click here for my other medical articles. **************************** 2.  Comments: 3. Coming Up: Medical articles about: * Best ways to get more time with your doctor. (3 parts) * Office extras you need to ask for. * How to handle your consultation. * How to judge the quality of your physician. * A patient's obligations. * A doctor's obligations. * Why medications don't work. * How to decide about having surgery done. * Resolving Infertility.   Notice: My two new cutting-edge ebooks will be available by Jan. 2009: 1. Hushed-Up Weight Loss Secrets--after struggling with obesity all my life it seems critical to let patients know the real truth about weight loss, diet books, weight loss programs, and much more---direct from the horses mouth. Click Here NOW. 2. Healthcare Secrets Revealed--Finally!---Dealing with healthcare system problems and resolutions, how and why physicians do what they do, strategies for getting your doctor to do what you want, how to communicate with your doctor in an effective way, and much more. Click Here NOW. ***************************** 4. Medical Tips and Interesting Bits: Save money on surgery costs: Reported in Kiplinger's Jan. 2009 Personal Finance magazine, you may be surprised to know that you don't need to fly to a foreign country anymore to have surgical operations that you can afford. Vancouver-based North American Surgery and Healthbase in Boston are two groups that assist patients to find affordable discounted surgical costs in hospitals right here in Heartland USA. Surgery costs are about one-third the cost of having the same surgery done on the east or west coasts---and performed by top surgeons as well.     When you visit your health food store remember that when some herbal medication is scientifically found to be "associated" with certain results---it's a long way from being documented and proven as fact. Laminin---Have you ever run into that word before? Type "Laminin" with the quotes into your search line, hit go, and you will be amazed at what you see and find there.   5. Resources for health information and education: MedInfo Healthfinder Med Help International Health Education Library All Health AllAboutBlackHealth Be MedWise eMedTV Enhancement,Inc. Health-Medical Info. HealthScout NetHealth Online PreOp.com Seek Wellness Think Like a Doctor Wired For Health   6. Feedback: OK everyone, let's hear it! May your abundance increase, Curt Graham, M.D. Physician, author, speaker, copywriter, marketer.  +Mark 16: 17-18 2404 Mason Ave. Las Vegas, NV 89102 http://www.healthcare-toolbox.com http://www.hushed-upweightlosssecrets.com  http://www.healthcaresecretsrevealed-finally.com  http://www.marketingamedicalpractice.com  Email = drcurt71(at)gmail.com ********************************** "No one can make you feel inferior without your consent."                  Eleanor Roosevelt Curt Graham, M.D., L & C Internet Enterprises, Inc. 2404 Mason Ave.  Las Vegas, NV 89102 E-mail = drcurt71(at)gmail.com       © 2008 Copyright Curtis Graham, M.D., L & C Internet Enterprises, Inc.  All Rights Reserved.   Policies-Disclaimers  / Links Page
	Curt Graham, M.D., L & C Internet Enterprises, Inc. 2404 Mason Ave.  Las Vegas, NV 89102 E-mail = cgmdrx(at)gmail.com       © Curtis Graham, M.D., L & C Internet Enterprises, Inc.  All Rights Reserved.