A Military Doctor’s Perspective: How to Get the Most from Your Visit

By Tom Robinson, MD for CinCHouse.com

One of the biggest issues people have when they go to the doctor’s office is not just their health, it is time. In our busy worlds time is a valuable commodity. The average military physician is given only 15 minutes per patient, and since it takes from five to ten minutes to document the encounter, that leaves only about ten minutes of face time with your provider. It is even worse for civilians where the averages are eight and four minutes, respectively.  For this reason you want to make every minute count. Below are some of the most popular questions from CinCHouse members. If you follow the suggestions below you will be fully prepared for your visit, able to address all of your concerns, and get all of the answers you need.

How can I get the most from my visit?
Know why you are there. Come to your visit with a concise list of your concerns. Be brief and try to limit your concerns to no more than three. If you have more, then either request a longer appointment when you schedule it or be prepared to come back again. You can even hand the questions to your provider at the beginning of the appointment. Do not surprise your provider by waiting to the end of the visit to mention something.
Write everything down.  Hand that list of questions to your provider and score extra points by listing all of your:

•    Medications (even aspirin), supplements, and vitamins
•    Present and past medical problems; and list any surgeries you have had
•    A rating of your level of pain (zero to ten, with ten being the worst)
•    Whether you smoke or not, and if you smoke, why you do or do not want to quit.

This list takes less than one minute for your doctor to read, so don’t waste over four minutes discussing the same information.  Use this extra time wisely during your appointment.

Do providers get uncomfortable with shaving, piercings, and tattoos during well woman exams? 
In a word, “No.” Medical school teaches doctors to depersonalize from the physical. Much like a mechanic is concerned with the function of the engine - not the paint - doctors concern themselves with personal “private” choices only to the extent that they may affect your health. Your doctor is not thinking about how you look or your personal style; he is calculating all the things that could affect your health.

Can I bring my children?
If you are the patient, be the patient. We all have obligations in our lives, and children are some of the most important on that list. But if you are not engaged in your own visit, it is hard for your provider to be. A distraction takes away from those precious minutes you want for having your questions answered. Utilize your family, friends, and Child Development Center as much as possible. If these are not available, bring your child but try to engage your child in something they can enjoy safely and independently for at least 15 minutes. Do not let your children have free reign of the exam room - ever.

The most important link between provider and patient is communication and mutual respect. Come to your visit with the open  mind you hope your provider possesses, and take the lead in your own health. With these suggestions in mind you can get more from your visit and quickly get back to enjoying the rest of your day.

Thomas Robinson, MD
CDR  MC  USN  UMO
Family Practice and Undersea Medicine