When you’re an inpatient in hospital or simply heading to hospital for a doctor’s appointment, it can be hard to remember everything you want to know about your health and condition.
Your doctor will often have a series of questions and checks they go through with you but you may also want their advice about your concerns.
Dr Allan Pelkowitz says it is always useful to bring a list of all your questions and concerns to any appointment.
“Prioritise these questions so that you ask the most important ones when you first see your doctor,” he says.
“This is really helpful for doctors as well because you may bring up a change in your symptoms which can affect the treatment options.”
Questions to ask
When you are in hospital, along with highlighting your specific concerns make sure you ask:
- How is my recovery going?
- What are my latest test results and what do they show?
- Is there anything I can do to help my recovery?
- What is the next step in my care?
Allan recommends asking similar questions of your doctor as an outpatient, but you can also take the opportunity to get more information.
“General information about your overall health is very important as things like being overweight, having high blood pressure or issues with your mental health can affect your overall wellbeing,” he says.
“You can always ask your doctor for recommendations or tips that you can easily take on board to help improve your health and wellbeing.”
Bring a support person to your appointment
Lastly, Allan says it can be helpful to have a trusted family member, carer or friend with you when your doctor completes their rounds in hospital or at your doctor’s appointment.
“Along with your list of questions, bringing another person to your appointment can help you remember the advice and remind you when you get home about the recommendations.”
About Dr Allan Pelkowitz
Dr Allan Pelkowitz is the Director of Medical Services at St John of God Midland Public and Private Hospitals and has more than 15 years’ experience as a general practitioner.