October is Health Literacy Month! A large part of understanding your health care is establishing good communication with your doctor. Below are some ways to ensure that the next time you visit your doctor, you get the information, answers, and treatment that you need.
Be prepared: Arrive to your doctor’s appointment with information about your medical history, and know what questions you would like answered before you arrive. Bring a pen and paper with you to your appointment to write down information you get, and, if you need it, bring a family member or caretaker to help you understand and remember what you are told.
Be honest: Make sure you share information about your medications, medical history, and lifestyle as fully and honestly as possible. This could mean making notes before your appointment about things to bring up. If you need suggestions for how to discuss sensitive topics with your doctor, you can find them here.
Ask questions: If you do not understand something, ask your doctor if they or a member of their staff can clarify the information for you. Make sure that you write down, or have your doctor write down, any instructions you need to follow.
For more tips on communicating with your doctors and health care providers, find information here from the Medicare Rights Center, and here from the National Institute on Aging.