Health ministry of republic of moldova the university of medicine and pharmacy nicolae testemiţanu

Have pertinent data with you.
Don't assume your doctor has all 
the information he needs. Always bring a list of all the medication 
you're taking, and who prescribed it. If another doctor has performed an 
examination, test, or procedure since your previous visit, brings a record 
of that encounter with you. 
–
Take notes.
During the visit itself, check off each of your ques-
tions as they are answered, each comment as you makes it, and each goal 
as it is accomplished. Take notes on the pertinent points your doctor ma-
kes with you. Some recommend tape recording doctors' visits. If you cho-
ose to do so, remember to ask the doctor's permission first, as it is illegal 
to surreptitiously record conversations in many states. Also keep in mind 
the following: if you ask to tape the visit, your doctor will immediately 
have visions of hearing that recording played back to her three years later 
in a court of law. If you tape record, expect your doctor to be more cir-
cumspect, and possibly less forthcoming, in her comments to you. 
–
Repeat what you heard your doctor say
. When your doctor 
makes an important point, repeat it back to her in your own words. That 
gives her the opportunity to confirm what you just heard her say, or 
alternatively, to restate her comment in case the message you got was 
not the message she tried to convey. Along the same lines, if your doctor 
gives you specific instructions, write them down, and let the doctor see 
what you've written. 
–
Don't stray from the point.
Your doctor has limited time to 
spend with you - very limited, with most health plans. Don't waste this 
time by talking about your sister's wedding. Stick to the script, or you 
will not meet your goals. 
–
Take a support person with you
. Taking a spouse, or good 
friend with you can be helpful. By listening to your conversation with 
your doctor, your support person can later confirm (or call into question) 
what you think you heard from your doctor. If what she heard is differ-
rent than what you heard, you can then clarify the discrepancy. During 
the visit itself, your support person can also remind you to bring up an 
issue you wanted to discuss, if you are forgetting to do so. 
–