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Heart to Heart - March 2001
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Getting the Most Out of Your Doctor Visit
Every doctor's office has a schedule which allots a fixed amount of time for each follow-up visit, and another fixed amount of time for a new History and Physical, Consults referred by other doctors, and Second Opinions. I have found that the following pointers help my patients get the most out of their visits to me for Cardiology problems (Chest Discomfort, Hypertension, Cholesterol, etc.).
Before You Come
Call the office (626) 857- 7344. Find out what documents you'll need to bring or send. If you were recently seen in an Emergency room for a heart problem, such as dizziness and an irregular heart rhythm, you will be advised to ask the E.R. to send EKGs, rhythm strips, lab results, and the E.R. Doctor's written or dictated notes. If you ever had heart tests, like an angiogram, or an echocardiogram, it will help to let us know beforehand, so we can help you to get those records released (with your signature) and forwarded to us in time for your office visit.
Keep the Schedule
I believe that "Good business starts on time." Although many doctors keep patients waiting, I try very hard to avoid this. As contrary as it may seem, patients who arrive late, wind up getting their visit rushed, so that the doctor will be less behind with the next patient. So don't sabotage your visit by arriving late. If the doctor makes you wait, don't feel bad about giving him or her a polite complaint. If it bothers you, and it happens repeatedly, come to my office and we'll fix it.
Signing In At the Front Desk
At the front window, you should tell the receptionist if there have been any recent tests that you wish to have reviewed with you. It will save you time if the staff has had a chance to gather this information and put it in your chart. They may be able to get it off the computer or they may have to make a phone call to get it.
List Medicines
It helps to bring a list of your medicines each visit, and give it to the receptionist to copy, or bring a full size copy of the list, if you keep it on a computer or word processor. Make sure the list has the dose (usually in milligrams) and the frequency or time of day that you take it. The nurse practitioner may review the list with you prior to the doctor's visit. For stress tests, your cardiologist may want to hold beta blockers, like atenolol or metoprolol, for a few days before the test.
Narrow Your Focus to Your Heart
Narrow your focus to the key complaint you're coming in for, and be specific. We look for clue words. I am much more able to help you with your heart if we talk about symptoms in you chest, or areas that you think are related to your heart condition, than if you ask me about unrelated systems, like constipation, or memory loss, unless you honestly feel that these concerns might be related to your cardiovascular system, or to medicines that you are taking for your heart. Tests ordered or done by other doctors are best discussed by the doctor who ordered the test, e.g., if a family doctor or urologist ordered a PSA, then it is better for you to discuss it with them.
List Your Questions
I advise my patients to bring a short list of up to 5 questions they want answered. This can be hand written or typed. One smart patient brings a copy for herself and a copy for me. Bringing a list of questions makes sure that the important questions are addressed in the office.
Bring Your Spouse?
If your spouse, or family, is going to ask you forty questions when you get home, then you may want to bring them with you, so they will hear it directly from the doctor.
Informed Consent
For stress tests, angiograms, stents, pacemakers, TEEs (Transesophageal Echocardiograms) and
cardio versions, I review the procedure's technique, any potential complications, and follow-up with you. Feel free to ask how many similar procedures I have performed.
Other Questions
You may want to know where your doctor did his training and if he is Board certified in cardiology. If you never checked it out, feel free to ask your doctor at this time. Doctors love to tell patients about their training, and it is a good proxy for how much they know about their profession.
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Heart to Heart - August 2001
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| Building Progress |
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On June 26, we had the ceremonial groundbreaking of the new Citrus Valley Cardiology Medical Building at 353 W. Foothill Blvd. Karen Babineau took a nice color digital picture that was on the front page last month. I will try to add this photo to our web page www.citrusvalleycardiology.com in a few weeks.
A picture of my son in front of the site is shown below, as a reminder of what it used to look like. Many people never realized there was an empty lot there, presumably because we adapt to the way things are, instead of looking at how they could be. I am sure that the pictures afterward, at our opening, in early November, will show that we have made downtown Foothill Blvd. more beautiful. Norm Nichols, our architect, has designed an elegant building.
ICON Construction is staying right on schedule. Demolition of the single palm tree on the lot, and grading, started July 3. A picture of the bulldozer making the pad is shown next to Neil's picture of the site the week before. The trenches for underground electrical and plumbing were dug the second week
Footings and block work are proceeding over the next month. Concrete will be poured next week, and asphalt paving for the driveways and parking will begin in a few weeks. Meanwhile, Robyn Meeker is working on telephone and computer systems to install for our office network. This will give us the backbone to integrate five cardiologists into our office.
I cancelled my two week vacation to Ireland with my family, and sisters, in order to get the building going on schedule, and it has been worth the sacrifice. The city has been easy to work with, as regards getting the necessary permits.
I have taken Tuesdays and Thursdays "off" from seeing patients in the office, in order to attend to the building and to group development, i.e., recruitment of additional cardiologists. Although a small city of 52,000 does not need 5 cardiologists, that seems to be the ideal size for a state of the art cardiology group, which will benefit Citrus Valley Health Partners, and the 800,000 people that Foothill, Queen of the Valley, and Intercommunity Campuses serve, along with San Dimas Community Hospital, and Huntington East Valley Hospital.
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