Doctor's Appointment? Don't Go It Alone

July 28, 2008— -- Heading to the doctor's office? You might want to persuade a friend to tag along. New research suggests that older adults who bring companions to medical visits are more satisfied with their medical care.

The study by researchers at Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health was published July 14 in the Archives of Internal Medicine.

Frankly, their findings were no surprise to me! I suspect that the study would also find that these patients had better health outcomes, too.

For most people, going to a doctor's office for even a routine examination is enough to raise blood pressure and spike anxiety levels. Checking into a hospital can be even more worrisome. What's at stake is everyone's most important asset: good health.

The increasingly complex health care system of the 21st century promises unprecedented possibilities for your health, but it also presents unprecedented possibilities for misunderstandings and mistakes by both patient and physician. Such errors can cost you a bit of money, a lot of money -- or perhaps even your life.

Nobody should try to navigate the system alone. Everyone should have what I call a health buddy who goes along for routine checkups, annual tests and who, during hospitalization, can serve as an extra pair of eyes, ears and perhaps hands. There's nothing like having a friend or relative lending support, encouraging you to tell the whole story and helping you make sense of what the doctor says. It doesn't take a skilled person -- just someone who can listen, absorb and care.

I have found that the fear of medical findings can reduce even the most powerful, assertive person to saying, "Yes, doctor," and "Thank you, doctor," instead of asking important questions. Imagine what it is like for an older adult raised on the notion of an all-knowing family doctor. So many of my older patients believe that somehow as the physician I surely know everything about how they feel, their medical history and what they need even without asking.