1. The Patient-Doctor Relationship
Elaine Furst, RN, MA

2. Here’s What We’ll Discuss
What do you expect of your doctor?
What are the doctor’s expectations of patients?
Define an effective patient-doctor relationship.
Practical preparations for your appointment.

3. Patient Expectations of Doctors
Information and education
Answers/Teamwork
Reassurance
Planning for the future
Referrals and networking
Medications
Hope

4. Doctor’s Expectations of Patients
To ask questions
To listen to answers
To share concerns
To follow advice OR
Discuss doubts about it

5. Suppose there aren’t any other doctors you can go to
If you live in an area with few docs who know about scleroderma you need to shop
Ask people in your support group who they go to and are they happy with their doc
Check the closest medical school
Access Put in your zip code and a list will come up.
Call or the Scleroderma Foundation or HOPE
Then call the office and make an informational appointment. Interview the doctor and find out how many scleroderma patients he/she has treated and would he/she be interested in having one more or learning about the disease.

6. The Effective Patient- Doctor Relationship
…………………….can be a partnership where both doctor and patient share in the responsibility for the patient’s care.

7. Evaluate………….
How do you and your doctor rate as a team?

8. Some criteria to consider
Trust your gut: Are you uncomfortable with this doctor? Do you dread appointments?
Does he/she really listen to you?
Does he/she answer your questions or refer you to someone or some information that can give you the info you need?
Does he/she not know about scleroderma and its treatments and continues not to know from appointment to appointment?
Does he/she treat you with respect?
Finally, trust your gut.

9. Tips for the next appointment
Write questions down beforehand.
Be sure to bring all lab work and tests if it’s a new appointment.
Tape or take notes during your appointment.
Or take someone with you who can.
Keep track of medications and symptoms between appointments. You can make your own workbook with forms to keep track or you can buy one online already made up for you. You just fill it in.

10. Wrap Up