July 4, 2024 Ontario UPDATE. Doctor’s Appointment with your parent: (1) how to prepare for the visit
The Prep for the doctor’s visit is vital. Prioritize the Prep for this visit to set your family up for success.
1. Prioritize the Prep: Simply set 15 uninterrupted minutes aside with your parent to discuss the upcoming doctor’s appointment.
Are there other trusted individuals who could add to the conversation to make this better for your parent, or for you? It is very common for families to include siblings, a spouse, or adult children. Bonus if you have a healthcare provider in your network (personal or professional) you trust who could be included. If you feel that adding others to the care plan is a good fit, ask your parent for their consent again as a demonstration you want them to maintain decision-making in their care.
2. Confirm the facts: Date, time, location, provider name.
You want to arrive at the office for the doctor’s appointment early to minimize any confusion and gain the most value from the appointment. You can do this by verifying the date and time, office location, and healthcare provider’s name in advance. If it is virtual, be sure to locate the virtual meeting invite, as it may be associated with your parent’s email account. If the appointment is in person, consider the travel time necessary, and if an overnight stay is feasible.
3. Content of the appointment: What is this meeting about?
What is your parent’s understanding, and yours, of the purpose of the meeting with this physician? Ensure you are clear about what is going to happen at the time you meet this doctor. Depending on the nature of the meeting, you can further prepare by composing a summary of any changes in symptoms, summary of care, or a new list of questions that you’ve co-created with your parent since the original referral took place.
4. Reassurance: Rest-assured that the appointment will take place, it is merely the content and the outcome that is yet to be determined. By following these Prep steps, you and your parent will be better prepared. Ideally, communicate these assurances to them as well.
The Preparation, the Visit, and the Debrief are the three key components of a successful outcome for your parent, and for you, and I am outlining my recommendations for each stage. Additional detail including sheets, checklists, and prep help is available here.
Thank you for continuing to support your loved one by preparing for and attending this doctor’s appointment alongside them so they can integrate the expertise from this physician into their life and continue moving forward. Because of the support you provide, the family is stronger, the community is more resilient, and so is wider society.
Want more like this? Let me prep you! The Prep Call for Specialist and General Practitioner Appointments is a Core Service in the co-created Comprehensive Caregiving Plan. Reach me directly here: https://workhorsehealth.com/find-help/