How to Self-Advocate with Your Doctor

Self-care starts before you arrive at your appointment.  Make sure you prepare yourself by organizing your information: appointment dates/times, doctor name(s) & location(s). Be mindful of some steps that can help you along the way.

Prepare

  • Keep track of all your scheduled medical appointments – Use phone or calendar reminders and arrive a little early for the visit.  This helps you get done faster too!

  • Bring a support person along for appointments – Ask someone you love/trust to attend your appointments with you.  This often helps with confidence when speaking directly with doctors. The trusted loved one sometimes can help you with questions and remembering visit follow-up instructions.  Note: Check clinic rules ahead of time to be sure guests are allowed. 

  • Make a list of questions in advance – Making a list of questions in advance helps you focus on all the concerns you wanted to address with the provider in the short time you have for a typical office visit. This will also force the provider to address YOUR specific needs and make you feel heard.

  • Bring a list of medications – Save this list in your phone for quick reference.  If your doctor is linked to the EPIC System®, make sure you sign up for “MyChart®”, then you can easily look up and edit your list of medications at any time.  

  • Coordinate Care: If you have multiple doctors – like a primary care provider, OB/GYN, a chiropractor, an orthopedist, and a PrEP Provider -this is your care team.  Make sure they are communicating or at least have shared access to your medical records to understand important things going on with your health.   

  • Create a health journal to use ahead of your visit:  Never downplay concerns. Honestly report severity of pain, stress, anxiety, trauma, and illness.

  • Journal to document issues of pain (start/end) and when/ if symptoms are worse in day or night 

  • Journal to note any other physical concerns – like a lump, bump or bruise, difficulty sleeping or breathing, headaches, or change in mood/appetite, etc.

  • Journal to document major changes in menstrual cycle like heavy bleeding or missed periods.

  • Journal to document how treatment/medicine makes you feel 

  • Journal to document length of and severity of illnesses including flu, COVID-19, and other conditions.

Important to note: Some health concerns cannot be managed during your annual checkup, for instance, if you are sick during your annual check-up, you cannot receive vaccinations or certain screenings. It is best to contact your primary care provider as soon as you have health issues to schedule a health appointment for any specific concerns you are having. This can help avoid frustration at the time of your regular check-up.

Communicate Openly

Share specifics: Honest sharing = more effective medical care. So don’t be afraid.  

  • Respect: Tell your doctor how you prefer to be addressed (proper pronouns, name, Ms. Mrs., etc.) 

  • Language: Use real terms when speaking about your body (instead of “cute” language, say “vagina”, “breast”, etc.)

  • Meds & Supplements: Tell doctor about ALL DRUGS you take – herbal, homeopathic, supplements, vitamins, homemade spiritual root teas, illegal street drugs, etc.

  • Missed Doses:  It happens to everyone, doctors know it.  But sometimes it may mean time for a change, so it’s important to be honest about the number of missed doses for your health.

  • Family History: This helps doctors know if anything genetically may require a different care approach.

  • Personal Medical History: Let your doctor know if you are breastfeeding, have lung, heart, or kidney issues, etc. The more insight they have, the better they will be at taking care of you. 

Press Pause: It’s OK to question or challenge your provider.  Ask for clarification and information as needed, for example:

  • “Do you have more information about this medication? I am not sure I am ready to start just yet.”

  • “Could there be another cause for my issue? I would like to explore all my options first.”

  • “I do not like my current treatment(s), are there any alternatives we can look into?”

  • “I’m unsure of the side effects for women (or for a person with your specific health issues), can you share more information about this?”

  • “I tried this medication for a few days, and I don’t like how it is making me feel, I want to switch meds”

  • “I want to make sure I am clear on the next steps.  Can we review the discharge instructions?”

Instant Replay:  Make sure you Understand Before you Leave

  • Take notes during your office visit or record on your phone to help you keep track of what you need to do.

  • Recap your visit instructions with the provider before you leave to make sure you are clear.

  • Double check that all your questions have been answered. Do You feel heard? Do you feel seen?

  • Be sure to schedule your next appointment before you head home – follow-up care is just as important.It’s OK to Move On - If you feel your Provider is NOT responding appropriately, you can file a complaint or you can find a new provider. Either way, we have provided a TRUSTED PROVIDER LIST OF ALTERNATIVES. Trust your gut!