As
a physician at the Primary Walk-In Clinic in the New Port Richey area of
Florida, Gunwant Dhaliwal spends a significant amount of time talking with
patients. While Gunwant Dhaliwal firmly believes that it is a doctors’ responsibility to provide the best
care through communication, he also has a few suggestions for patients, so that
they can get the most out of their appointments.
Be Prepared
If
you’re not a medical professional, it can be difficult to have the language to
communicate your needs or know what your exact health history is like. That
being said, it’s important for a doctor to know what medications you are on and
what procedures you may have had recently. Gunwant
Dhaliwal recommends bringing a list of any medications and a brief
medical history to appointments with a new doctor who may not have your patient
chart in hand. If you have multiple issues you wish to discuss with your
doctor, consider making a list so you don’t miss anything important.
Be Honest
Doctors
sometimes ask embarrassing questions, but Gunwant Dhaliwal notes
that providing false or incomplete answers does not help in making a diagnosis,
and can actually prevent your doctor from treating you in the most effective
way. Gunwant Dhaliwal advises patients to answer questions about smoking,
drugs, drinking, and eating habits honestly. Doctors see all kinds of people
every day, and won’t judge you for your personal habits!
Ask Questions