Tips for a Better Doctor Visit
1. Have as many medical records as possible with you to document your medical condition, especially for a new visit or a consult. Go by the hospital, lab or other doctor’s office and get copies. This saves the doctor time and sometimes even avoids an extra official call.
2. Bring in the actual bottles of prescriptions. While lists are helpful, the bottles reveal how many are prescribed at a time, dosage, and if there are any refills left. There is no more guessing about the “little blue pill.” With so many generics the same drug can show up as many different shapes and sizes depending on the manufacturer. Now you can both be on the same page when talking about a specific medication. I am also surprised at the many errors on the bottles by the pharmacist.
3. Create a list of questions/requests before your visit. In fact, it would be ideal to tell the person making the appointment what areas you need to discuss. This is not the time to say its “personal.” We assume it is all personal in a medical office. It helps us be prepared in scheduling, equipment, and assigning the proper room. Believe it or not, we have heard most of your problems before. Of course if it is extremely sensitive in nature than just tell the receptionist how much time you will need to discuss your personal problem.
4. Try to keep to one system of the body per visit unless a complete physical is done. Most office visits are geared to blocks of 15 minutes. Usually this is adequate to cover most simple problems such as a rash, upper respiratory infection, and urinary infection just as examples. The longer you have had the problem or the vaguer the symptoms such as abdominal pain or dizziness expect to spend more time. Don’t hesitate to ask for more time. We would rather know ahead of time what your expectations are.
5. Ask for prescription refills, notes for work or school, and forms to fill out at the beginning of the office visit rather than at the end. Of course, a friendly reminder is always good if it has been overlooked when you leave. You can always give a list of medications needing refills to the nurse at the beginning of the visit too. Again, communication helps everyone get their needs met.
6. Be realistic in your expectations. If you start the discussion on a topic that is unrelated to the original problem on the schedule and want some answers, this leaves less time available for other problems. For example, if you are due to have a pap smear and gynecological exam but start with a headache complaint that requires a physical and full history, don’t expect all of it to be done in one visit. Always prioritize what is most important for that day. Sometimes problems become more important, symptoms severe since the original appointment or follow up was made. Just tell the nurse or doctor things have changed as soon as possible. That way we can stay on schedule and you can get the most important problem addressed.
7. Don’t leave the office without telling someone if you aren’t satisfied with your service. Most doctors and staff assume everything is going ok unless told. It is easier to fix a problem, answer a question or complaint as soon as possible while the information is still fresh. If you are uncomfortable talking or can’t stay, write a quick note. Many areas are sensitive and highly charged emotionally. It is easy to misunderstand directions, reasons for tests, or the intent of the doctor’s remarks. We really do care how you feel.
8. It is easier to process your visit on time and handle paperwork if all of your information is correct. Tell the receptionist if you have moved, have a new telephone number, or changed medical insurance. Always bring your insurance card with you.
9. I know everyone is busy and overscheduled. The number one reason doctors are behind in the schedule is patients showing up late. True, other factors can play a role such as telephone calls and very sick patients. Just be aware that as the day progresses the problem gets magnified. If you must get in and out quickly try to book the very first or second appointment of the morning or afternoon.
10. Be flexible. Medical offices are there to serve the patients. Sometimes bad news, a tragic accident, or a serious medical condition requires more time and attention of the staff. We can’t hurry someone out who is in tears. Just be understanding that if it is you, you will get the extra time and attention needed.
Author: Katherine A Martin, D.O. - Board Certified Family Practice Physician. Medical Coaching and Consulting. Health for the whole person. Visit my web site at www.DO-Medicine.com
The link between food and health is often forgotten and the wonderful part about adding garlic to your food is it is so flavorful you forget it has preventative disease and medicinal healing properties.
Garlic is one of the best sources of selenium, a nutrient noted by cancer researchers for its powerful antioxidant properties. From curing colds, and fighting cholesterol to cleansing toxins from your body; is it any wonder it is considered a miracle food? To learn more about it’s medicinal properties I recommend reading, Garlic the Miracle Food by Dr. Pavlov.
Add Garlic to your food everyday - yes every day. Sound like a lot? You won’t think so once you discover a few favorite recipes. With these tips and ideas you will find yourself roasting garlic, adding it to cooked and non-cooked meals and yikes, even eating it raw!
Worried about smelling of garlic? Although people who eat garlic on a regular basis do not reek of it, after a meal of eating it raw you will have garlic breath. To relieve garlic breath, chew on a sprig of parsley. If you are worried, stick to cooked garlic or garlic capsules.
Over the years I’ve discovered a variety of ways to use garlic in my daily meals, and have converted many people to the wonders of garlic as well. These ideas will turn your meals into tasty delights and gourmet dishes. If you are unaccustomed to garlic, start with smaller amounts until your taste buds get used to the new flavor.
Roasted Garlic
Excellent as a side dish served with a pepper jelly and added to recipes roasted garlic has become one of my gourmet favorites.
How to make it:
Cut off the top of the garlic bulb, exposing the flesh of each clove.
Pour 1-2 tablespoons of olive oil over the cloves.
Wrap in foil and bake in the oven at 375 for 1 hour.
Hints:
Roast several at a time. Pinch the soft cooked clove from its shell and store in a container in your freezer to have ready for your next recipe.
Choose large bulbs, elephant garlic works best.
Roasted garlic with meals you already love.
It’s so easy to include: just crush 1-2 cloves of garlic and stir it in.
Soups - Stir 2-3 cloves into potato soups, tomato based soups and pasta dishes.
Potatoes - Crush 1 clove per serving into mashed, fried and scalloped potato recipes.
Side dishes - Serve a whole roasted garlic bulb with pork dishes - especially pork chops. A whole roasted garlic will also compliment salad and casserole meals.
Hints:
Roasted garlic introduces a nutty flavor
Start with 1 clove per serving and adjust to your taste
Cooking with Garlic
Experimenting with garlic in my everyday cooking has me adding it to almost any dish.
Vegetables - The next time you steam your broccoli add a few cloves of garlic slivered during or after cooking and you won’t need all that salt and butter.
Stir Fry - Adding slivered, sliced or crushed garlic to any stir fry dish will only be complemented by it’s flavor.
Eggs - Add crushed to scrambled eggs, omelets, and quiches.
Roast Beef - Cut slits large enough to insert whole cloves of garlic and roast as usual.
Hints:
Cooking garlic slowly in soups, stews and roasts mellows the garlic flavor.
Take care when sautéing garlic, burning it will make it bitter.
Raw Garlic
Did we say raw? Yes, raw garlic is most effective in it’s natural form.
Try these easy and simple favourites:
Grill cheese sandwiches - thin slices spread on your cheese before grilling
Pasta garlic oil - slice garlic cloves up to 1 cup and mix with 1 cup of olive oil and cook over medium heat until soft and lightly browned - pour over pasta.
Juice - add crushed garlic to your vegetable juice.
Hummus - This chickpea spread is a tasty way to eat raw garlic, and you won’t even notice it’s raw.
Salads - Rub the side of a wooden bowl with raw garlic. When you toss the other ingredients in it your salad will have a hint of garlic.
Condiment - Some people actually eat them the same way they would eat pickles. I haven’t tried this one, yet!
Hints:
Store garlic in a cool dry place with ventilation - not in the fridge.
Avoid buying garlic with green sprouts
Enjoy in good health!
Barb Keck is the author of this article, and many more on various topics of life at http://www.vidaville.com Vidaville - it’s about living! Answers to daily dilemmas, making life easier and more enjoyable. Educates and inspires to have healthy relationships and new ways to live. Life resources for women and men to love, laugh and live.
Article Reprint Rights - Feel free to publish this article on your website. You must agree to leave all author credits, active links contained within intact, and “as is” and NOT hidden behind a java or redirect script. Please notify the author at barb@vidaville.com.
Trying to decide whether getting your GED or your high school
diploma is best for you is a personal decision that each
individual must consider at some point in time. It is important
to know what some of the advantages are in both situations.
If you are considering your GED, you have a number of
advantages. First, you simply have to take a seven-hour test to
get your GED. You have to complete four years of high school to
get your diploma. You do not have to complete tedious homework
assignments to get your diploma, and most employers and post
secondary institutions, including trade schools, will accept a
GED as well as they will accept a diploma.
If you are considering a high school diploma, you also have a
number of advantages. First, you can get the training you need
in high school to not only get your diploma, but also to start a
high paying job right after graduation. Most high schools offer
excellent vocational education programs that can let you start a
career in nursing, cosmetology, welding, or any number of other
possible programs as soon as you have obtained your diploma.
Moreover, if you ever want to enroll in further post-secondary
education opportunities, any college in the country will take a
high school diploma much easier than they will take a GED.
Employers look at a high school diploma on much better terms
than they look at a GED. Employers know the commitment it takes
to get through high school. They know how rough it can be at
times. As a result, they consider you to be a better candidate
for the job than they do someone with a GED. They know that you
have what it takes to handle the tough situations that may come
up in your career.
If you are trying to decide between a high school diploma and a
GED, try the diploma. You’ll get better results every time.
If you need more information visit http://www.citizenschool.com
to learn about Home
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