Caregivers Corner: Communication with Physicians
As a caregiver, you may be in charge of taking your loved one to doctor appointments. If your loved one is unable to fully communicate with the MD due to cognitive or speech issues, then you will need to be your loved one’s advocate. Here are some important tips to remember for doctor visits:
1. Make sure that your loved one has filled out a form stating that you can talk to the doctor about their medical condition. HIPAA privacy laws in the US prevent medical staff from discussing patient issues with anyone unless the patient has signed forms saying otherwise. You may want to have your loved one fill out a medical power of attorney so you can assist with all of their medical matters. Discuss this with your attorney.
2. Take a list of medications with you to the doctor’s office. It is important for the MD to know all the medicine a patient is taking especially if medicines have been ordered by various doctors or the patient is experiencing side effects. Remember that the pharmacist can be a good resource regarding medication side effects and interactions.
3. Do not be afraid to ask questions, and take a list of questions with you. Do not try to rely on your memory as it is inevitable that you will forget something you wanted to ask.
4. If you forget to ask a question during the appointment, you can call back to the doctor’s office and ask to speak to a nurse. The nurse may be able to answer your questions or will relay your message to the MD and call you back with any answers.

To finish this article and read the full version of Stroke Recovery Tips October 2013 including bed positioning, hemiplegic dressing techniques, and standing leg exercises, click here.