How To Get The Most Out Of Your Visit With A Spine Specialist
Category: Spine | Author: Stefano Sinicropi
When it comes to health care, patients always want to ensure they get the most out of their experience with a medical staff. The same goes for us at our clinic. We want to get the most out of our patients so they can experience the best recovery possible. But in order to get the most out of your experience with a spine specialist, you have to know some of the tips and tricks for improving your experience. We share those tips in today’s blog.
Show Up Early
You don’t need to get there super early, but if you’ve never been to this specialist, or you haven’t been back to this doctor recently, it’s a good idea to get there 15 minutes before your appointment in order to fill out paperwork and make sure your insurance is accepted. You may still be waiting for your doctor when your appointment time hits, but that’s only because we want to provide every patient with the time they need for their specific issue. If you’re late, it can leave everyone feeling rushed and negatively impact your experience. If you show up early, we’ll do everything in our power to be on time on our end.
Be Descriptive
Let us be the ones to decide want information is important and what’s irrelevant to your case. Don’t just say that your back hurts, tell us when it hurts most, what type of symptoms you’re dealing with, what makes it better, what medications you’re currently taking and if you’ve had any problems with your spine in the past. The more you tell us, the more we can help to pinpoint your specific condition.
Tell The Truth
We’re not here to judge you, we just want to help you get better. So if we ask how much alcohol you drink, if you use tobacco or how regularly you exercise, be up front with us. All of these actions can affect your spine health, so if we don’t have a truthful picture of your regular habits, we may gloss over a simple treatment technique because you’ve assured us there’s no need to go down that road. Be honest with your spine specialist.
Ask Questions
Your conversation with the spine specialist needs to be two-way in nature if you want to get the most out of your appointment. Ask them for their recommendations, what you can expect from each treatment technique, what to do if problems get worse, and what they would recommend if a family member was dealing with the same condition. Doctors love patients who take ownership and an interest in their treatment plan, and one of the best ways to do that is by asking questions to your doctor.
Follow Through
The final tip for maximizing your experience with a spine specialist is to follow through with your treatment plan. You should leave the spine center with a clear understanding of what you should be doing for treatment, but it’s only going to be helpful if you follow through on your end. You’re not going to maximize your recovery by failing to take an active role in your treatment. If you have questions about your rehab, please don’t hesitate to ask questions.
For more tips on improving your patient experience, or to talk to a specialist about your back pain, reach out to Dr. Sinicropi’s clinic today.
