Talking To Your Doctor ~ Getting The Best Care Often Starts With Proper Communication About Your Injury
A recent article in the Springfield News-Leader discusses the importance of good and proper communication with your doctor and other health care providers. As a personal injury attorney in Missouri, I have so advised my clients for years that complete and direct disclosure of all pains, symptoms and concerns is a MUST to maximize the benefits from health care. Responsibity and accountability are key words I focus on when preparing a client's claim. I argue that the other party must be responsible and accountable for what they did to cause the injury.
Likewise, a lawyer's client's must too be responsible and accountable for getting healthy once fate has given they this unexpected twist. In order to be responsible for yourself and your family, good communication is critical. Lack this one crucial skill, you may get lousy medical care.
"The old technique of having a conversation is 99 percent of what a successful doctor's visit is about," says Peter Salgo, a doctor and professor at Columbia University in New York and host of the PBS medical series "Second Opinion."
On the flip-side, doctors who don't listen, don't answer questions or don't remember their manners, is a reality and a reality the I advise my client's on.
Of course, communication is a two-way endeavor and patent's have the ultimate at-stake (their health) and therefore must be assertive.
That's why growing numbers of patient advocates are teaching patients what to say, how to say it and when to listen during those precious few minutes in a doctor's office. WOW, what wonderful advice I wish all of my patients would follow. As an injury lawyer, I advocate for my clients and advise my clients. My advice, if followed, will often create facts and documentation that serve an advocate well in achieving satisfactory results.
An experienced attorney at Cardin & Payne Law Firm can help you through the jungle of claims adjusters, investigators, doctors, bills, paperwork and the multitude of other issues as you recover from injury. Call now and get the help and advise you and your family need.
I look forward to speaking directly with you about what I can do to help.
