Gunwant Dhaliwal on Communicating with Doctors

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

Doctors should supply you with all of the necessary information, but sometimes they may explain things with medical jargon or in a manner that is unclear to you. If you don’t understand your diagnosis, treatment options, or possible side effects of a medication, Gunwant Dhaliwal recommends asking plenty of questions until you are fully clear on the situation. Otherwise, you may miss information that is crucial to your health.