Five Tips for Your Next Doctor's Visit

March 3, 2009 — -- Most patients have a limited amount of time to express themselves during a doctor's visit. Indeed, patients can generally expect 15 to 20 minutes of face time with their doctors, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

"Good Morning America" medical contributor Dr. Marie Savard offers five tips on how patients can make sure they get the most out of their doctors' time.

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So many people are afraid to listen to their guts — both figuratively and literally. You've got to trust your own health radar.

If you feel that something is not right and that a lab test or doctor's diagnosis doesn't make sense, believe it. Your health radar works better for you and for your family than any doctor's could possibly work.

Doctors care for thousands of patients and you care only about you. Don't be afraid to speak up; it is your life that is on the line.

Remember, a doctor is not like a pilot flying a plane. If a pilot makes a mistake, everyone, including the pilot, goes down. If a doctor makes a mistake, only you or your loved ones suffer, so don't be afraid to speak up and to participate in your own care.

Don't just go in with a litany of aches and pains. Make a list of what is bothering you before you go.

First of all, it helps you remember everything so you're not running after your doctor at the end of the visit saying, "Wait, I forgot to mention my chest pains." So make the list, then show it to your doctor and, together, set the agenda of what the most important issues are.

You may think your stomach trouble is the most important thing, but he or she may see that you also have chest pains and say, "That's what we need to deal with first."