How to work well with your doctor

Your doctor is a key player in your health and quality of life. He or she has the unique expertise to perform critical assessments, diagnose problems and provide medicine and advice to keep you well. Here's some information to help you work well with your doctor.

Your doctor is very, very busy. Surveys show that the average family doctor sees three to five patients an hour, spending about 10 minutes — slightly less time than it takes to bake a frozen pizza — with each one.

That's not to say that your doctor doesn't want to spend more time with you.

It's just that, no matter how competent your doctor is, there are always going to be other patients waiting for the next appointment. And there will always be emergencies that need to befit into that tight schedule.

This is why you can't expect your doctor to be completely accountable for your care. That's not a doctor's job. A doctor must do the same as any other qualified expert, be it a car mechanic, accountant or lawyer — occasionally assess your condition, provide remedies when the situation calls for them and detect trouble before it becomes serious. The rest of the time — in fact, most of the time — it's your job to take responsibility for your health.

While a doctor should not be the sole voice in your health care, he or she should always be your primary health advisor. It remains very important to maintain an ongoing dialogue with your doctor.

Part of this dialogue is letting your doctor know of every pill you're taking and the dosage. This includes frank discussions on what supplements you're taking — some may not interact well with prescribed medication.

Also, though not all Western doctors are receptive to herbal and nutritional remedies, but nonetheless you must keep them apprised of any supplements you may be taking. This is especially true if you suffer from any chronic conditions, such as asthma, depression or diabetes. It's a good idea to write yourself some notes so you don't forget what you wanted to ask about as soon as you get through the door.

If your doctor doesn't seem that interested or discourages you from being an active participant in your own well-being, make some enquiries about finding a different doctor.

Keep these tips in mind to help you work well with your doctor.