How to Talk to Your Doctor
By: Charlotte Ames
Updated: September 25, 2012
Some area residents recently got professional advice on how to get the most out of a doctor's appointment. Dr. Kathleen Sweeney is the associate director of Family Practice Medicine for Altoona Family Physicians. She spoke to the Health Living Club at Altoona Regional Health System.
One of her key points: prepare for your visit by researching your own medical issues. As she explained "at least understand the vocabulary, so when you talk to the doctor and they're talking to you, you understand basically what they're talking about, because if you don't even know what the words mean, you're not going to get the fine points."
She added, go to your next appointment with a list of questions, concerns, and goals and be a participant in your medical care because your doctor alone can't keep you healthy.
One of her key points: prepare for your visit by researching your own medical issues. As she explained "at least understand the vocabulary, so when you talk to the doctor and they're talking to you, you understand basically what they're talking about, because if you don't even know what the words mean, you're not going to get the fine points."
She added, go to your next appointment with a list of questions, concerns, and goals and be a participant in your medical care because your doctor alone can't keep you healthy.
Charlotte Ames is the area's only local Health Reporter and brings you the latest medical health news weeknights. You can catch Healthcast on WTAJ News at 5:00pm and her Health Headlines report on WTAJ News at 5:30pm.