As providers, we are committed to being active participants in your healthcare; likewise, it's important for you to be active in your healthcare, too! By mutually taking a pro-active approach, you and your physicians will be able to discuss your options based on complete information and choose the path that best suits your needs. Below are some tips for getting the best results from every visit.

Talking With Your Doctor

It's important to share all of the medical information you can with your doctor, so that the decisions you make with your physicians are based on complete and honest information. Please be prepared to give us background on your current and past medical problems and procedures, even if you find some things embarrassing to share. Although some details may be seemingly unimportant, they may have bearing on your evaluation. Below are some things to consider before your appointment:

• What are your symptoms? Tell us everything, even if you do not think something is important.
• Tell us about your health history. Often, having a timeline of your health history -- sort of like a resume -- is helpful. A "health resume" keeps all of your information in order, so you can update it as you receive care. You may even want to provide a copy for key players: for instance, a family member or close friend who is involved in your care. Please include conditions, procedures, emergencies, care providers and approximate dates.
• Please bring all of your medications with you. In most cases our doctors must prescribe medicines to help you with your condition. In order to prescribe medications as safely as possible, it is important for us to know the type and dosage of each medication so that your prescriptions do not adversely interact. By bringing your medications with you, we may collect precise information from the indications listed on the prescription bottles.
• Tell us about any allergies, reactions or side effects you have had to your medicines.
• Do you take any vitamins, supplements, or over-the-counter medications? Do you participate in any alternative treatments or take any alternative medicines?
• Bring other medical information or medical records with you. For instance, have you recently had any procedures, diagnostic imaging (i.e. xrays, CT scans, PET scans, etc.), or tests?

If you find it necessary to make notes on such information, please bring your notes with you. 

Asking Questions

Please do not hesitate to ask questions or have an open dialogue with you doctors. If you do not understand something, ask your doctor to explain it to you, otherwise they may assume that you understand.

• Ask for another explanation every time you do not understand something.
• Keep a running list of questions or concerns that you may have and bring them with you at the time of your visit. Having a list gives you the opportunity to ask all of the questions you've been thinking about and gives your physician the opportunity to attend to your needs. You may want to leave room on your page between questions so you may make notes regarding the answers during your appointment.
• If you have some questions that are more important to you than others, ask those questions first so that we can give priority to your greatest concerns.
• If you have questions that arise during your visit, make a short note on your list so you can remember to ask the question.
• Bring a family member or friend along to your appointment. Often it helps to have another person with you to help listen, take notes and remember answers.
• Tell us when you need more time to talk about something. We can arrange for someone to talk with you or schedule and appointment for you to talk with a doctor.

If you find it necessary to make notes on such information, please bring your notes with you.

Taking Information Home

Taking Information Home

Taking information home with you is a great way to refresh the information and instructions you receive while you are in our office. If you take written information home, you may reference it at any time, as opposed to memory where the details may not be as clear. Listed below are types of information you can take with you:

• Notes you have taken during your appointment. Writing down the information your doctors give you is absolutely acceptable and encouraged. If you are concerned that it may be difficult to absorb the information while you write, bring a relative or a friend to help transcribe the information, so you may focus on listening.
• If the instructions you receive are unclear, ask for written instructions.
• If taking notes does not suffice, ask your doctor if it is okay with him or her to bring a tape recorder or a portable dictaphone to your appointment.
• Brochures and other educational materials are readily available in our office. If you are interested in reading more about your condition, what to expect or about community resources, ask our nursing department or social worker for some literature. If you are entering a clinical trial, ask our research team for literature to review.

Following Up

If you have questions about your care, prescriptions, or symptoms, call our main line (502.897.1166) and ask for our Patient Services department. We may need to return your call as soon as a nurse or physician is available to help. When you talk with the nurse or physician, please give as much detail as possible.

To request a refill of a prescription, please call your pharmacy, who will transmit the request to us electronically.

If you need to talk with someone about your follow-up appointment(s), call our main line (502) 897-1166 and press 3.

If you need to request a release of your medical records, please contact the Baptist Health Release of Information department by calling (502) 253-4820.

If you need our practice to send records for continuation of your care with another physician, please call (502) 897-1166 and press 2.