After seeing patients for over 15 years, I have come to the following conclusions:

1.  Take care of your health.  If you don’t take responsibility for your own health, nobody else will.  Whether you see a doctor or listen to other people’s advise about your health, the bottomline person who is responsible for your health is YOU.

2.  Ask for written material from your doctor or bring a pad to write on.  You need to take a note pad with you to write down what the doctor says, and, if necessary, have him give you written material on what is going on with your health concerns.

3.  Be assertive. If your doctor is standing with his or her hand on the doorknob and you still feel confused, then say so. You should never leave a doctor’s office with unanswered questions.  Ask him the questions on your mind; or better yet, have your questions written down ahead of time.

4.  Since today’s time-crunched doctors may not have extra minutes to inform you of all the possible side effects and contraindications of your medications, you must assume some of this responsibility. Talk to your pharmacist or take the initiative to read all the materials given to you about your medication. Again, take responsibility for what medicines go into your mouth.

5.  The days of the authoritative physician and the passive patient are gone. Much of the burden of making sure you get quality care has shifted to YOU, the patient.