Talking with Your Doctor (And Other Health Professionals)

Men’s Health Peer Education HEALTH MANAGEMENT
Talking with your doctor (and other health professionals) (Tab 30)

Talking with your doctor (and other health professionals)

Contents

Learning outcomes 3

Acknowledgments 4

Introduction 5

The importance of having a doctor? 5

Finding a doctor 5

Other health professionals 10

Medication 11

Medical information on the internet 12

Talking to a mate about his doctor 12

Further information 14

Reviewed: 08/10/2015 Page 3/15

Men’s Health Peer Education HEALTH MANAGEMENT
Talking with your doctor (and other health professionals) (Tab 30)

Talking with your doctor (and other health professionals)

Learning outcomes

On completion of this module, and with further directed activities, MHPE volunteers should be able to:

þ  state three reasons for an Australian man to have an ongoing relationship with a GP

þ  suggest key matters to consider in helping a mate find a good GP

þ  list ten health issues that may need to be considered in an annual health check

þ  discuss ways of optimising discussion and outcomes with a doctor or other health professional

þ  list six health professions that may be available to eligible veterans and ex-service personnel on GP referral

þ  explain simply what the term ‘drug’ means

þ  state five important descriptors of any medication that should be recorded on a medicines list

þ  demonstrate how to find accurate health information on the internet.

Acknowledgments

Information in this section has been sourced from the following sources:

·  Victorian Quality Council, Department of Health, Talking with your doctor resources website, accessed 2012. (Note the VQC completed its term in 2012 and materials are now only available via Department of Health archives)

·  Department of Veterans’ Affairs, Veterans’ MATES website (www.veteransmates.net.au) 2015

·  Department of Health and Ageing, eHealth website (www.ehealth.gov.au) 2015

Introduction

Statistics show that men are more reluctant than women to see the doctor, even when the problem is serious. Men, however, are more likely than women to end up in the emergency department! A man, his family, his doctor and other health professionals work best together to manage his health and medical issues. Having a regular general practitioner (GP) is important, as this means not having to go over his medical history every visit, and makes communication easier.

Many ex-servicemen have had no need for a relationship with a GP while serving. Their training taught them to ‘tough it out’ in any case, and sometimes not to discuss health issues with medical staff in case of career impact. If relatively young and healthy on discharge, there may seem little imperative to find a GP.

The importance of having a doctor

When it comes to staying healthy or living with a medical condition, a good GP is a valuable partner. He/she draws on years of education and experience in discussing health risk factors, history and lifestyle. But a successful doctor–patient relationship requires participation on both sides. Honest and detailed description of issues, symptoms and concerns from the patient allows the GP to work with him to prevent illness, manage chronic conditions, identify problems and help him remain as healthy as possible. The GP understands the health system and can help provide access to specialists, allied health professionals and hospital services, especially for eligible veterans. The earlier a man discusses issues with his GP, the better.

Finding a doctor

Helping a mate find a good GP might be the best thing you could ever do for his health. In making the decision of who to see, he should consider his specific needs:

·  Access: can he get there easily; is there parking, disability access, etc?

·  Being able to get an appointment when needed.

·  Availability of long consultations if required.

·  Bulk billing (no direct patient fees). There is usually no fee for eligible veterans.

·  Clinic type: small, in which he sees the same GP each time, or a large practice that may have specialist doctors, physiotherapists, psychologists etc.

·  What specific needs he has; for example, some clinics may have a doctor who sees more clients with diabetes, or only works Fridays.

·  After hours and home visit availability.

If a tradesman does a bad job on your house, you don’t get him next time. If you are not happy with the service from your doctor, raise your concerns with him or find another. Ask your mates, family members or local health or welfare services for a recommendation.

Some tips for your mate about successful visits to the doctor:

·  A good doctor is accessible: Make an appointment to ensure that you see the doctor at a time that suits you.

·  A good doctor respects your time: If your doctor commonly runs late and you have to wait, ring to check before leaving. If the delay does not suit you, reschedule your appointment. Ring as a courtesy if you are running late, as alternative arrangements may be possible.

·  A good doctor allows time: If you have a number of issues to discuss, or a procedure that may take a bit longer, ask the receptionist whether you should book a long appointment.

·  A good doctor is flexible: If you have an urgent problem let the receptionist know, as many surgeries keep a few ‘emergency appointments’ free.

·  A good doctor needs information from you: Take all your medications and/or your medication list with you to the consultation (and see below).

Annual check-ups with your doctor are like regular car services: you don’t wait till the engine seizes before you do something about it!

Consider booking in for an annual check-up (your major service!), even if feeling well. At this appointment the discussion may cover issues including:

·  diet and exercise

·  weight management

·  sleep quality

·  stress management

·  mental health issues

·  memory

·  blood pressure

·  smoking

·  alcohol and other drug use

·  blood sugar to check for diabetes

·  cholesterol

·  prostate examination

·  skin lesions, sun exposure and vitamin D

·  screening for blood in bowel motions

·  relationship and social concerns

·  transport and mobility

·  anything else of concern to you or the doctor.

eHealth

Encourage your mates to talk to their doctor and sign up for an eHealth record to assist with improved health management. Having an eHealth record can make getting the right treatment faster, safer and easier:

Faster, because doctors and nurses and other health care professionals will not have to spend time searching for past treatment information.

Safer, because authorised health care professionals can view your important health care information, including any allergies, medicines and treatment.

Easier, because if travelling or not seeing your usual health provider you will not have to remember and repeat your medical history, medications and test results.

This will result in better coordination of health care, particularly for veterans with chronic conditions and complex health needs.

You can apply for an eHealth record in online, in writing, over the phone or in person, but it best to go to the website first to read the information provided.

Ehealth website (www.ehealth.gov.au)

Talking with your doctor

·  To get the most from your consultation take an active role in your own wellbeing by being informed and engaged. Use the ‘Talking to your doctor checklist’ (see Resources section under tab 30) to assist.
·  Make a list of your symptoms and concerns. Be as specific as possible, noting the duration, frequency, timing, severity and whether there are any associated triggers or patterns. Explain clearly how the symptoms are affecting your life.
·  Say what is worrying you most first, instead of leaving it until the end of the consultation: put it first on your written list. Use the ‘Health concerns checklist’ (see Resources section) to assist. Your doctor will then understand how important your concern is and give the discussion the time it needs. If you do not get through everything, you can always make another appointment.
·  Know and provide your doctor with your family medical history. Knowledge about illnesses that may have affected your family can help your doctor to identify your risks and, in turn, recommend lifestyle or medication changes.
·  Be honest. Give your doctor accurate information. Lifestyle factors such as diet, exercise, sexual activity, alcohol and other drug or smoking habits can all affect your disease risk or medications. Answer all questions frankly about your current lifestyle, and about how prepared you are to make any changes.
·  Expect honesty from your doctor in return. You want a clear explanation, in language you can understand, about what, if anything, is wrong; how serious it is; how it can be treated; and what your choices are. If anything is unclear, ask.
·  Discuss any worries or mood problems, including health issues, relationship difficulties, money worries, or emotional concerns. These are all relevant to your health management.
·  Bring a relative or friend for support and company, to help with communication, and/or to assist if needed.
·  Don’t be afraid to speak up, no matter how personal or private your problem seems. Even if your problem is sensitive your doctor has probably heard similar concerns before. All doctors hold confidentiality in the highest regard.
·  Tell your doctor if you are not happy with any aspect of the visit. This will enhance future collaboration.
·  Ask your doctor to explain anything that is unclear, and for a print-out or written explanation of any results, information or complex words. This is a common request for all doctors, and it is their responsibility (and your right) to ensure communication is understood.
·  You should leave your appointment with a clear understanding of any condition you may have, your treatment and any follow-up appointments, tests or other care you may require.

Other health professionals

All the points above hold true when you see other health professionals. Sometimes your GP may refer you to a specialist doctor. It can occasionally be a long wait to see a particular specialist, especially for the first time; ask your GP if there is someone you can see earlier if you believe the matter to be more urgent.

It is important that you feel comfortable with, and confident in, the health professional you are seeing, particularly if the relationship is to be ongoing. Review again the list above, and always be confident in asking for another opinion.

DVA will pay for eligible cardholders to receive treatment from the following health professionals (who accept the DVA Gold/White Card), usually with a doctor’s referral:

·  podiatrists

·  dietitians

·  physiotherapists

·  diabetes educators

·  psychologists

·  social workers

·  osteopaths

·  chiropractors

·  speech pathologists

·  occupational therapists

·  exercise physiologists

·  community nurses.

There are many other health professionals, including those in the complementary health fields, that you may choose to use for treatment or advice at your own expense. Although there are legal restrictions on who can use terms such as ‘medical practitioner’, ‘registered nurse’, ‘psychologist’ and some other titles, many other titles can be loosely used by practitioners (e.g. ‘counsellor’, ‘natural therapist’). While many will be appropriately trained and registered, it is always prudent to ask about qualifications, registration and experience, as well as considering all the other ‘talking to your doctor’ items above.

It is always your choice about who you consult for health advice and how you manage your health, but it is wise to keep your GP informed of all other treatments you are receiving.

Medication

Bring all your medications with you to the medical consultation, or a list of prescription medicines (this should also be held by your doctor and your pharmacist), as well as all containers of other products you take, even if only occasionally.

These products include all:

·  ‘alternative’ or ‘complementary’ medicines

·  non-prescription pills such as aspirin and cold and flu tablets

·  liquid medicines, such as cough syrup

·  herbal treatments

·  vitamins and minerals

·  any other ‘over-the-counter’ treatments.

These are all ‘drugs’, and have potential to interact with other drugs. Alcohol is also a drug, so be honest with your doctor about the amount you consume. The same goes for illicit drugs, such as cannabis (your doctor is interested in your health, not reporting you to the police!). The greater the range of substances you are taking, the greater the risk that there may be an interaction with other drugs. Tell the doctor of any changes, side-effects or concerns you have when taking any drug. By keeping your doctor, and your pharmacist, fully informed, you reduce the chance of medication errors occurring.

It is useful to keep a written and/or smartphone record of all prescribed and other medication, including:

·  name: brand name and generic name, as the chemist may dispense a different brand than that prescribed

·  what dose you take

·  when it should be taken: time of day, when in relation to meals etc

·  what it is taken for

·  what side-effects you should look for, especially if newly prescribed

·  if there are any medications it interacts with that you may take

·  any other issues with this medication of which you should be aware.

You can get this Medicines List from your community pharmacist, the NPS website below (where you can download the MedicineList app) or use the ‘Medications checklist’ (see Resources section under tab 30). It is good to add any non-prescription products as well and to take the list to all health appointments. If you are taking a large number of medicines, or are having difficulty taking or remembering to take medicines, you may wish to ask your GP or pharmacist about a Home Medicines Review. If eligible, this review can be conducted with a pharmacist at your home.

Remember: Have your list of medications updated whenever your medicine changes, and make sure it includes everything you take.

Medical information on the internet

The internet is a great source of health information. And misinformation! Stick with sites that come from a government agency, statutory or professional body, university or other not-for-profit source. Website addresses that include .gov, .org or .edu are often a better starting point than .com. This Volunteer Resource manual has many useful websites. Do explore other possibilities however; but make sure you talk with your doctor or another health professional before you self-diagnose or try a new treatment.