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Effective Communication Between Caregivers and Doctors
Family caregivers spend a lot of time taking their family member to doctors’ appointments. If you are like me and were unexpectedly thrust into caregiving, you may have some apprehension about how well prepared you are to communicate with doctors.
On November 6th I sat in on Part I of a Teleclass that was sponsored by the National Family Caregivers Association. The purpose of the teleclass was to help family caregivers communicate more effectively with health care professionals. Most of the notes that I took from the teleclass are below. The information is in no particular order:
Who is Our Health Care Team - note their names and what they do, keep all information in the same place
- The Doctor’s Staff
- The Pharmacist
- The Adult Day Care Staff
What I Need to Know About The Doctor’s Office
- Who can answer my questions when I need to call the office
- What is the best time to reach the doctor if I need to speak with him/her
- When I call the doctor’s office, tell the nurse or receptionist the main thing that I need
- Ask how to handle emergencies
- Who is responsible for filing claims
- What forms need to be signed
- What are the costs for services
- Informed of HIPAA (Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act)
Patient Documentation - Keep an up-to-date file with the following information:
- Medical records
- Family Contacts
- Insurance information
- Prescriptions
- Over the counter drugs
- Reactions to past medical treatments
- Past surgeries and illnesses
Health Care Notebook
- Diary of doctors’ visits
- Concerns and questions for doctors
- Is patient eating and sleeping well
- Has patient slowed down
- Concerns about pain - is it worse
- Memory issues
- Are there other ways to treat illnesses
- Lifestyle changes as a result of illness
- Why are certain tests being conducted
- Prioritize questions to ask (just in case time runs out)
Legal Information
- Living Will
- Durable Power of Attorney
Unfortunatley, I was unable to attend Part II of the teleclass but I hope this information is helpful.
Related Reading:
The Caregiver, Dementia and Doctor’s Visits
Coping With Alzheimer’s Disease
Alzheimer’s Disease affects entire families. Family members helplessly watch the fading memory and declining health of their loved one with Alzheimer’s disease. At some point, many family caregivers have to make difficult decisions about the care of their loved one who suffers from Alzheimer’s.
Related Reading:
Sending Momma For An Alzheimer’s Assessment
The Caregiver, Dementia and Doctor’s Visits
Last week the Adult Day Center program director called to tell me that she thought we should take Gladys to the doctor. They were concerned because they had to help Gladys to the bathroom four times within one hour. I knew Gladys made frequent trips to the bathroom but four times in one hour was even excessive for her, so I made an appointment to see if she had a urinary tract or bladder infection.
One of the problems with taking Gladys to the doctor is her dementia. Once we get to the doctor’s office and the doctor starts to ask her questions, she doesn’t remember how often or even “if” she had pain or discomfort. Since she doesn’t like to complain, Gladys usually won’t tell me if she is in pain, so I can’t help the doctor when he asks about pain and discomfort.
On November 6th I sat in on a teleclass given by the National Family Caregivers Association, entitled Communicating Effectively With Healthcare Professionals. One of the tips they gave caregivers was to keep notes about complaints, discomfort and pain and take those notes to doctor’s visits. This is a habit that I am trying to form and I’m trying to get in the habit of asking Gladys if she is in pain. It should make it easier to answer the doctor’s questions.
So many issues, so much to learn.
