It's not the blood tests, MRIs, CT scans or fancy physicians that are most important when it comes to protecting one's health. It can be the conversations that patients have every time they step into a doctor's office.
That's the argument put forward by Danielle Ofri, an associate professor of medicine at New York University and author of the book "What Patients Say, What Doctors Hear."
"I want both doctors and patients to give (conversation) its due," she said.
Research shows physicians tend to interrupt their patients within the first 8 to 10 seconds of them talking. Ofri said she worries electronic medical recordkeeping gets in the way of face-to-face communication since it makes it more convenient for health care providers to focus on their computers more than the patient sitting in the room.
Here are some of Ofri's tips for making sure the best possible communication — for patients and physicians — the next time there's a trip to the doctor’s office:
If you're a patient: Have a list
Knowing precisely what you want to talk about before one even steps into the doctor's office can be a great start.
Ofri recommends keeping a list short and sweet rather than having a long laundry list of every single thing you might want to touch on. She recommended prioritizing two to four things things you really want to talk about. That way, a patient will have plenty of time in the appointment to talk about those things in depth with the doctor.
When you leave, glance back at your list and make sure all your most important questions have been answered before leaving, she said.
If you're a patient: If something seems off, speak up
Ofri said people shouldn't be afraid to tell a doctor that they've forgotten to do something or that you don't like something they've done.
Ofri said she once lost a patient because she forgot to perform a physical exam on her. The patient came back and told her later, and Ofri was extremely grateful, because she wouldn't have realized her mistake otherwise.
Just be polite and not too confrontational, she said. If a doctor is offended or reacts angrily, that's probably a sign it's time to find a new doctor, she said.
If you’re a health care provider: Resist the urge to interrupt
It's tempting to barrage patients with questions and information as soon as they arrive, but Ofri says: Don't do it.
At the beginning of the visit, let the patient say what they need to say — and then ask them questions. That way, they can be sure to prioritize whatever is concerning the patient most and not waste time asking them about things that they were going to tell you anyway.
"The patient owns the visit," Ofri said.
If you’re a health care provider: Make sure your patient understands
At the end of an appointment, it's good practice to make sure a patient really understands any potential diagnoses, the risks and benefits of any treatments being considered and what those treatments entail, she said.
Ofri recommended asking a patient to feed back or synthesize the visit to you.