Newswise — You've heard of a brown bag lunch - how about a brown bag doctor's visit?
Dawn Davis, M.D., a SLUCare family physician and assistant professor of family and community medicine at Saint Louis University, recommends patients pack a lunch bag to make their first visit to the doctor's office run more smoothly.
"I tell patients to bring in everything they are taking in a brown paper bag," Davis said. "I want to see prescribed medications, anything they are taking over the counter, vitamins and herbal supplements. Many times drugs and supplements can interact with each other."
Davis said bringing the bottles in also gives a physician easy access to dosing information and who the prescribing doctor is - details patients may often forget to add to their medication list. Compiling the bag can also help ensure that the physician sees if medications are being taken as prescribed.
"Healthcare providers often assume that if you have been prescribed a medication you are taking it," Davis said. "If you aren't taking it, we need to know why."
She added that by addressing issues upfront, doctors are better able to help patients get the treatment they need.
Patients should feel like they can discuss any concerns, Davis said, whether that concern is specific to a medication or a question about costs.
"I try really hard to make sure that I'm cognizant of what I'm prescribing and when possible I try to use lower priced medications," Davis said. "But with different health insurers and different pharmacies, prices can vary. If you go to pick up a medication and you think the price is widely out of line, call your doctor back. There is a good chance we can prescribe something else."
In order to avoid two trips to the pharmacy, Davis recommends talking to your insurance provider to find out your plan's preferred pharmacies and labs. She says knowing in advance can save a patient out-of-pocket expenses, especially on lab procedures.
If you are coming in for a specific ache or pain versus a routine check-up, Davis advises patients to think a bit about their symptoms.
"Think about whether anything makes you feel better or worse," she said. "Does a routine activity worsen your symptoms? Do you feel better early or later in the day? Tracking your symptoms may help your doctor determine the best course of action."
A patient should be able to tell their physician how long they've been experiencing the symptom, if it is intermittent or constant and what their level of discomfort is. Honesty around symptoms and your health habits will also aid in the diagnostic process.
"We need honesty. Doctors aren't here to judge if you tell us you don't exercise or you are a smoker," she said. "We need the truth in order to make the best recommendations."
Other tips for making your doctor's visit run smoothly include:
* Have your paperwork ready. If you are a new patient, get there early. If you are a returning patient, make sure your paperwork is up to date so no time is wasted during an office visit.* Create a list of every doctor and specialist you have seen in the past 12 months, along with the reason for the visit.* Know your health history.* Don't wait until the doctor has their hand on the door to bring up additional concerns. If you have a question or concern, talk about it as part of the visit. Typical appointments run 20-30 minutes.* Make sure you understand what your action plan is once you leave the doctor's office.
"If it helps to repeat it back, do it," Davis said. "We want to make sure you understand the diagnosis and that the treatment plan makes sense to you."
Established in 1836, Saint Louis University School of Medicine has the distinction of awarding the first medical degree west of the Mississippi River. The school educates physicians and biomedical scientists, conducts medical research, and provides health care on a local, national and international level. Research at the school seeks new cures and treatments in five key areas: cancer, liver disease, heart/lung disease, aging and brain disease, and infectious diseases.
SLUCare Physician Group is the academic medical practice of Saint Louis University, with more than 500 health care providers and 1,200 staff members in hospitals and medical offices throughout the St. Louis region. SLUCare physicians are among the most highly trained in their fields - more than 50 specialties in all - and are national and international experts, renowned for research and innovations in medicine.
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