You and Your Physician

Establishing a Relationship With Your Doctor

Communicating effectively with your doctor is an essential part of the health care process. Together you are working as a team to reach and continue optimal health.

Trusting your doctor is mandatory if communication is to go smoothly and successfully. You should be able to tell or ask your physician anything without feeling embarrassed. They are there to help you and can only do so if they know what’s bothering you on the inside.

Over time, your primary care physician becomes well acquainted with you and your family pretty. Your physician is accountable for addressing a large majority of personal health care needs, developing a sustained partnership with the patient, and practicing within a family and community. They also serve as a referral source if medical attention needs to be addressed else -where. Primary care physicians play an important role in life and communicating effectively with them can affect your overall health.

Sharing Information comfortably with your doctor Keep in mind that communication is a two-way street. Most doctor visits end with, “Do you have any questions?” The general response for most is, “No”. Most likely patients should think more thoroughly about this question. There’s no need to be shy about anything. The doctor has information that may be pertinent to your health.

Also keep in mind that personality types must coincide with one another, or at least be flexible. A doctor is an advisor who can be friendly or take a straight--forward business approach. Both are fine and achieve the goal to service a patient professionally. What do you feel comfortable with? The health status of the patient may affect the type of doctor desired. A long-term illness patient may need a friendly physician to ease the pain they are experiencing. While on the other hand, a patient who is getting a routine check-up may just want the facts. It helps to know what you want as a patient.

Understanding your Doctor

Admittedly, doctors have a language all their own and understanding them at times can be quite challenging. It’s a good idea to think about having another person with you while your doctor is explaining information pertaining to your health. Two sets of ears are always better than one in order to understand all your doctor has to say. Also, it’s definitely wise to write down a few notes while your physician is speaking. After your visit review your notes and think about any possible questions.

Patient Rights and Responsibilities

1. All patients have the right to quality medical care.
2. All patients have the right to information about pain and pain relief measures and to be apart of the decision making process related to their pain management.
3. All patients have the right to be informed of alternative treatments and to choose among these alternatives, including the right to refuse medical consequences of their own actions if they refuse treatment or do not follow the doctor’s recommendations.
4. All patients have the right to every consideration of privacy concerning their medical care program.
5. communications and records pertaining to their care shall be treated as confidential.
6. All patients have the right to expect Covenant HealthCare, consistent with its obligations, policies and moral religious beliefs, to make a reasonable response to their request for services.
7. All patients have the right to expect reasonable continuity of care and assistance in locating alternate services when medically indicated.
8. All patients have the right to examine and receive an explanation of their bill, regardless of the sources of payment. Patients have the responsibilities to provide information necessary for claim processing and to be prompt in payment of their bills.
9. All patients have the right to know the rules and regulations that apply to patient care and conduct, and are responsible for following those rules and regulations.
10. All patients have the right to receive an explanation of their treatment program and to ask for further clarification if the course of treatment is not understood. Patients have the responsibility to cooperate in their treatment program.

Physician Matters

The physician's obligation to maintain confidentiality means that they may not disclose any medical information revealed by a patient or discovered in connection with treatment of a patient. Health care is a private matter and is respected by the medical profession both legally and ethically.

A patient must express authorization in order for medical records to be released to third parties: This rule is taken seriously for the patient has trusted the physician with private information pertinent to their health. Physicians know the importance of respecting patient confidentiality and are aware of the consequences if not followed properly. Not following the rule of patient confidentiality can lead to embarrassment of the patient as well as physician.

A breach of confidentiality is disclosure to a third party, without patient consent or court order, of private information that the physician has learned within the patient-physician relationship. To avoid this matter it’s always important to have the patient sign a release form for proper authorization.