Navigating the healthcare system is difficult – even for those without disabilities or social, financial, employment, and/or family challenges. Many helpful tips are available on various reputable websites, examples here, here, and here. But if you find you’re still frustrated (I’m betting you are), keep reading, and remember – you’re taking care of your health, and you’re doing a great job!
🌅 Make your appointment as early in the morning as possible.
Many healthcare practices schedule more patient visits than can actually be seen in one day. The later your appointment, the more likely your clinician is running behind. While you might be scheduled for a 30 min appointment, the allotted time on a clinician’s schedule might be as little as 15 or even 5 minutes. If you can’t make a first-thing appointment, right after lunch (1 pm) is your next best bet.
🤳 Show up to your appointment, or cancel it instead of not showing up.
Because many patients simply don’t appear at their appointments, healthcare practices respond by overbooking (adding more patients per day than available slots) or double booking (creating two patient appointments at the same time, assuming one will not show up). This can lead to long wait times. Letting the office know of a cancellation allows another person to take that spot and for everyone to get more time with their treatment team.
💬 Discuss your concerns with a trusted friend or partner beforehand.
A list of questions is most useful when your clinician has ordered a major procedure, surgery, or with a new diagnosis. But if you have a new symptom or symptoms, talking this over with another person helps to collect your thoughts. The best way to do this is in the format clinicians think:
- When did it start?
- How long does it last?
- Does anything make it better or worse?
This can help drill down the information the clinician needs and what they need to ask, just in case you have limited facetime, as in #1.
🥇 If you’re trying to research your symptoms/condition, stick with a few tried and true sources.
It’s great to come with talking points and questions, but it’s also important to protect your wellbeing, and going on an extended “Google expedition” of your symptoms (and worse-case scenario outcomes) can lead you to feeling more anxious than you should going into an appointment. Sticking with a few highly reliable medical websites such as the Mayo Clinic, Medline Plus, and The Johns Hopkins Health Library will keep you prepared without going down any major rabbit holes.
👩🏽⚕️ If your clinician orders a test/imaging/procedure, ask how the results will change the treatment plan.
There are some tests that lead to results that are binary, (either good or bad), but the majority are way more complex. Understanding the full range of possibilities will prepare you to process those results, get a second opinion, or discuss other options. Asking if the treatment plan will change will challenge the clinician to consider whether the results of these tests will be actionable.
⏰ If your clinician orders a test/imaging/procedure ask them what the recommended timeline is.
When clinicians order tests, they don’t always communicate the level of urgency well. Ask if the test should be done this week, this month, or this year. Ask what the consequences might be if you have trouble making an appointment or can’t afford the cost (both very real possibilities). If this feels overwhelming, ask a trusted friend or family member to help make the appointment. Some better-resourced offices even have the capacity to help make the appointment for you.
💲 Ask about the cost of surgery/procedures/labs, especially if you have a high deductible health plan or are uninsured.
Clinicians often order labs routinely without considering the financial burden to patients, which can be significant – a basic lab panel can cost thousands of dollars. There is generally not a “going rate” for medical procedures and even the billing department cannot always give you an accurate estimate, so your clinician will most certainly not be able to do so. If you are uninsured, you can qualify for a reduced “self-pay” rate, which may still be unaffordable. If you have insurance, you will be charged at a much higher rate, and if you have a high deductible, you are on the hook for much of the cost.
🧡 Remember-It’s not you.
The healthcare system is trying for everyone – even healthcare-savvy professionals. Even if you try to do all the “right” things, you may feel exhausted from jumping through so many hoops. We all deserve better. Be kind to yourself and if you have the strength, join us to fight for a better system.
Related posts
How can I prepare to get the most out of my next medical appointment?
Medical Report: To View or Not To View
Community organizations working to improve healthcare:
Community Catalyst [archived link]
Health Care For All [archived link]
Business Leaders for Health Care Transformation [archived link]
Center for Health Progress [archived link]
Center for Health Care Strategies [archived link]
Link to Original Substack Post
