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Visiting the Doctor

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How to Select a Family Doctor: What should be considered when choosing a doctor for a dementia patient?

  1. Does the physician enjoy and take pride in practicing medicine?
  2. Does the physician follow new developments? (e.g. Subscribe to the Alzheimer's Association Research and Practice Newsletter)
  3. How do you think the physician is relating to your problems?
  4. Does the physician ask questions of you?
  5. Does the physician show an interest in your response?
  6. Does the physician treat you like someone whose unstated fears deserve his/her attention?
  7. Is the physician's practice sufficiently limited to give you time and unrushed attention?
  8. Does the physician insist on a thorough physical examination and careful analysis of medical history and symptoms? (Beware of doctors who can tell you what is wrong with just a quick glance at you in your street clothes!)
  9. Does the physician ask precise questions: What: Where: When: How Long: Why?
  10. Do the physician's responses show that you have been heard?
  11. Does the physician help you understand any instructions or decisions?
  12. Does the physician follow-up to find out how a treatment worked?
  13. Does the physician present alternatives and help you decide what should be done and how best to manage?
  14. Is the physician willing to admit, "I don't know" and seek a consultation?
  15. Does the physician regularly confer, teach or provide consultation for colleagues?
  16. QUOTE: Remember - Competence without compassion is bad medicine. Compassion without competence is equally dangerous. The best doctors have both.

All of the above was taken from an article written by Victor Cohn HOW TO RECOGNIZE THE BEST DOCTORS in the Washington Post Health Magazine, February 2, l988, p.8.

The following suggestions are made to ensure that your visitation to the doctor is most productive, cost-effective, efficient and comprehensive.

  1. Write down all symptoms, changes, or concerns in preparation for the visit to the doctor.
  2. When the doctor is speaking to you, take notes that you can review later. You may have difficulty remembering everything the doctor tells you, especially if you are under a lot of stress as a caregiver, or are upset.
  3. Ask the physician or nurse to explain anything that you do not understand. Do not accept patronizing or vague explanations.
  4. If you need support, ask a family member or friend to sit in on the interpretive part of the visit.
  5. Be sure you understand the directions for medicines or regimens prescribed. Do not be afraid to repeat them back to the doctor.
  6. Do not be afraid to question a procedure or prescription. Remember your physician is the expert but he/she is not infallible.
  7. Do not be afraid to ask for alternative treatments and their consequences to major health problems. A good physician should not be offended by your questions.
  8. If you are having problems with behavior and a proper medication for such, do not hesitate to request a psychiatric consultation.
  9. Show your appreciation. Physicians and related health care professionals play an important role in maintaining and promoting the well-being of the patients they see.
  10. Set aside time to speak with the doctor privately, so that the patient does not overhear information that might be upsetting.
  11. Consult with the office staff and schedule an appointment for the office's least busy time or during your patient's best time of day.
  12. Keep a daily diary, even though this is an added chore for a caregiver, it is an easy way to document changes in the patient's behavior or physical condition. Be sure to note any changes that appear to be associated with a new medication or other sudden changes that need to be brought to the doctor's attention immediately.

The following are specific tips for attempting to help you in getting the patient to the doctor.

  1. Plan ahead to minimize the stress of the office visit.
  2. It may be necessary to tell a patient beforehand about an appointment. Personal experience will tell you whether the patient needs time to prepare for the appointment or if advance knowledge will only serve to agitate him/her.
  3. On the day of the appointment, do not ask patient if they want to go; just present the appointment as being on the schedule that day.
  4. Get the patient into the car without comment, then tell them about the appointment when you are near the office. Limiting the information the patient has to remember can reduce anxiety and is not deception.
  5. To avoid getting involved in an argument, ignore or downplay objections. Example: Patient, "I will not go to the doctor," instead of saying, "Yes you will," say "We'll stop for a snack after seeing the doctor."
  6. If patient is hesitant to go to the doctor for diagnostic testing, they may go for other purposes, i.e., have blood pressure checked, etc.
  7. Take someone with you for help. Some patients are more cooperative with certain family members than others. Find out who seems to get best response from the patient and have them bring patient to the doctor.
  8. Allow plenty of time for getting ready, getting out of the house, traveling and parking.
  9. Bring something that will distract or comfort the patient, such as a book, magazine, pictures, stuffed animal, puppet, etc.
  10. Bring a snack in case there is a long wait.
  11. Do not leave the person unsupervised in the waiting room, bathroom, etc.
  12. Take a walk or a short drive if the receptionist says there will be a long wait.
  13. If the patient resists all attempts to go to the doctor, the doctor may make house calls or prescribe a tranquilizing medication.
  14. Make prior arrangements with the doctor to consider the caregiver as the patient. Once there, doctor talks to caregiver, takes blood pressure, etc. but gradually directs attention to the Alzheimer's patient, and thus conducts the visit without stress on the patient.
  15. Try to plan some time for just you after your trip to the doctor in order to take care of yourself.

In the Northern Virginia Chapter Service Area, for more information about Visiting the Doctor, please contact the Chapter's telephone Helpline at (703) 359-4440 or 800-207-8679. Outside Northern Virginia, please contact your local Chapter.

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Last updated: March 1, 1999

Please return to https://www.alz-nova.org or
call 800-207-8679 or (703) 359-4440
for more information about services in Northern Virginia.

© 1997 - 2000 Alzheimer's Association, Northern Virginia Chapter. All rights reserved.

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