How to Talk So Your Doctor Will Listen

American patients are losing faith in their healthcare system — and also in their healthcare providers. In 1966, 75 percent of Americans had high levels of confidence in medical workers, but by 2019, that percentage had plummeted to just 15. The reasons for failing trust in healthcare providers are myriad, from rampant discrimination and bias within medical practice to a lack of equitable access to care, but in many cases, patients simply feel that their doctors and nurses are not listening and responding appropriately to their health concerns.

This is a difficult issue for healthcare providers to solve. Almost everywhere, there are not enough providers to adequately care for the population, which means that many providers do not have the time or energy to form personal connections with every patient. In most practices, providers have a strict time limit of about 15 minutes to spend with each patient before they must move onto a new case.

If you have an issue that you want your healthcare provider to pay close attention to, you need to command your provider’s attention with specific actions. Here are a few ways to improve the way you communicate in the exam room, so you can receive the healthcare you deserve.

Schedule a Telehealth Visit First

Effective communication with healthcare providers can take practice. Because an online doctor visit is faster, more convenient and much more cost-effective than a physical trip to a doctor’s office, you might practice your communication techniques through telehealth. Before you make an appointment, you should verify with your insurance provider the costs you could incur through a virtual visit, which are likely to be low if not totally free. Though telehealth appointments are not exactly like traditional appointments — providers might not be able to run all the examinations and tests you might need to address your concern — they can last longer than a regular in-person visit, which means you might have more time to get your point across and receive expert information.

Collect and Organize Your Health History Data

So much of medical decision-making relies on information about a patient’s past. For example, if you are experiencing digestive distress and your family has a strong history of colon cancer, your healthcare provider might be more willing to entertain the possibility that you are suffering from a serious disease that warrants targeted testing. You should do your best to assemble accurate and exhaustive information about your medical history and the histories of your closest family members, which could drive your healthcare provider to action.

Document Your Current Health Issue

You know your body better than anyone else on Earth. You know how it runs when it is healthy and happy, and you know when something is not working right. However, every body is different; there is no way for a healthcare provider to understand that your issue is new and concerning to you unless you can demonstrate the full extent of it to them. You might use pictures or videos to document your health issue in your real life, especially if that issue is changing over time. Then, you can share your documentation with your provider during your appointment if they try to dismiss your concern offhand.

Limit One Health Question Per Appointment

Because the American healthcare system is so complex, costly and inconvenient, many patients try to save up health complaints and address all of them during a single appointment. However, this is not how doctor’s visits are designed to work. Providers have an exceedingly short amount of time to devote to your health, so you need to focus on one problem at a time.

Ask Your Question Immediately

Some offices will ask you to submit a reason for your visit when you schedule your appointment; others don’t. Regardless, you should pose your question or concern to your provider as soon as they enter the exam room. This shows your provider that you are intent on seeking answers about a specific issue, and it allows them to focus their examination on areas of your health that might provide pertinent insights.

Answer Questions Clearly and Confidently

Undoubtedly, your provider will ask you questions about your health to gain more information to make diagnoses or guide next steps into treatment. You should avoid wavering in your answers to these questions; you should appear confident, and you should use clear language to express yourself. It might help to know exactly what you want from your visit before you go; you can write down your goals on paper, so you have the words ready to explain yourself. In return, you should demand clarification from your provider on issues you do not understand.

It should be the responsibility of the healthcare providers themselves to improve patient trust, but increasingly, it is falling to patients to be their own health advocates. Fortunately, with the right communication strategies, you can get what you want from every interaction in the healthcare system.