American Medical Association Family Medical Guide - American Medical Association [100]
Here are some other things to consider when choosing a doctor:
• What kind of doctor do you need?
• Do you have a personal preference concerning culture, gender, or age? For example, do you want a doctor who comes from a similar background or speaks the same language as you do? Would you prefer a doctor who is the same sex as you or close in age?
• Do you need a doctor who is skilled in performing a particular procedure or in treating a particular illness?
• Is the doctor’s office easily accessible? Are his or her office hours and days of operation convenient? How far in advance would you have to make an appointment?
• Does your doctor have a good reputation among other doctors?
• Does he or she have privileges at a good hospital?
• How many years of residency training or fellowship has he or she completed?
• Is he or she certified by a medical specialty board?
What Does It Mean to Be Board-Certified?
To become board-certified, a doctor must complete at least 7 years of medical training (4 years of medical school plus 3 years or more of residency) and pass a comprehensive examination in his or her chosen specialty, such as surgery or internal medicine. Only when the doctor passes the examination is he or she board-certified. To find out if a doctor is board-certified, call the American Board of Medical Specialties (ABMS) at 866-275-2267, or visit the ABMS Web site (www.abms.org).
Talking to Your Doctor
When you see a new doctor for a routine physical examination, he or she will ask you a series of questions to find out what diseases or disorders you and your closest family members have had. Your answers to these questions make up your health history. This is valuable information your doctor needs to evaluate your current health status, determine what screening tests you might need, diagnose and treat any disease or disorder you might have, and recommend steps you can take to prevent future health problems.
Also be ready to provide your doctor with information about previous medical care, dates of immunizations, and your lifestyle. Have this information in writing—don’t rely on your memory.
To help determine if any diseases or disorders run in your family, try to learn as much as possible about the health history of your close relatives. Ask them about health problems they have now or may have had in the past. To learn about the health problems of a family member who has died, ask another family member or contact the person’s local health department to obtain a death certificate, which lists the cause of death.
After you have interviewed all of your relatives, use the information you have gathered to construct a family health history tree like the one on the next page. You and your doctor can then review the information in the finished tree to identify any patterns in the health of your family and evaluate your health risks.
Your Health History
Create your own written personal health history so you can monitor your medications and any changes in your health. Fill out the personal health history form on pages 132 to 134. Take your written personal health history with you each time you have an appointment with a new doctor or other health care professional. The information can help your doctors become familiar with you, your health, and your health care needs. The more completely you fill out the form, the better able your doctor will be to determine your health care needs.
Family Health History Tree
Personal Health History
Current Nonprescription