Building a Strong Partnership with Your Medical Team

The relationship you build with your medical team is an important one. Your questions and their expertise often guide the conversations in each appointment. And the needs you have are important to consider as you work together for the best care experience.

1. BUILDING BETTER PATIENT
PROVIDER RELATIONSHIPS
WHEN YOU ARE IN THE MEDICAL SPACE

2. WHY DOES THIS MATTER?
•Feeling understood
•GettingALL the information you need
•Trust andguidance when you do not know what you do not know.
•Thebiggerpicture
•For YOU –Other priorities, needs, goals
•ForTHEM–Experience,knowledge,perspective

3. THREEKEYFACTORS FOR A HEALTHY RELATIONSHIP
•Communication
•Respect
•Trust

4. 1. BE PREPARED FOR YOUR APPOINTMENTS
•Create a list of concerns and questions.
•Your feelings of worry or fear often hold a questions? Pay attention with
purpose.
•How istreatment, side effects or symptoms impacting your daily life?
•Whathaschanged?What would you want to be different?
•The more detail you provide the better –help “paint the picture” for your
medical team

5. 2. PRIORITIZE YOUR ISSUES TO DISCUSS
•Useyourtimethoughtfully.
•Take time to review yourtopicsandbeginwiththeissuesthatare most concerning or
intrusive for you?
•Whatdoyouneedto feel comfortable in order todiscuss what really matters?
Watch your time?
•Setparametersforhowlong you will spend on an issue.
•Consider the end as you begin. What will make you feel heard? How will you know
you’ve gotten the answersyouneedtoday?

6. 3. BRING A COMPANION WITH YOU
•Before your visit talk through your biggest questions. Thishelpsyour
companionunderstandyourneedsanjoin you.
•Considerhowinvolvedyouwantyourcompanion to be IN the appointment? Is
it ok if they help you articulate youquestions (especially if you get emotional
or miss something?)
•Giveyour companion permission to help you stay on track. Move to the next
topic or help clarify information.

7. 4. BE HONEST
•Factorsaboutyourpersonallifeareimportantforthephysiciantounderstandso
theycanaccuratelyassessandguideyourcare.
•Are you adheringtothetreatmentplan?Doyouhaveafewcocktailsorsmoke? Be
candid.
•Your appointment is confidential. Your doctor is there to treat your cancer, not judge
you.
•Acknowledge feelings of embarrassment and remember, your doctor is human too.
They see many many people, you likely are not the first.

8. 5. REVIEW YOUR CARE PLAN BEFORE YOU LEAVE
•Physicians andnurses are often taught to use the “Teach Back” or ”Show Me”
methods in their patient care.
•Thesemethodshelpwith:
•Improving patient understanding and adherence
•Decreasing patient follow up calls or cancelled appointments
•Improving patient satisfaction and outcomes
•IfthisisnotdoneinyourofficeYOU can initiate it with simple statements like:
•“We’ve gone over a lot of information today,I want to make sure I have understood you.
These are the top three things I found most important today.”
•“When I get home, I plan to review our conversation with my partner and will tell him/her…..”
•”Let me make sure I’ve heard everything correctly…”

9. 6. CHUNK AND CHECK
•You do not need to wait until the very end of the appointment to review.
•Chunkandcheckisaway of reviewing and “talking back” information along
the way during your time together.

10. 7.COMMUNICATE WITH YOUR PHYSICIAN IN THE
PATIENT PORTAL
•You will begin to learn what is the most efficient and responsive way to
communicate with your doctor.
•Thepatient portal may offer you fast (but often simplified) responses to
questions.
•Theconversationsintheportalcanbereferenced during visits and help
provide a timeline for when different concerns/issues were coming up for you.

11. 8. LEARN WHEN TO USE VIRTUAL CARE
•This helps streamline care and allows you to get the attention you need in a
responsive way.
•Appropriateuseofvirtualcarecanalsohelpyourdoctormeet you where you
are and attend to you needs simply.
•Askyourmedical team what they have found works for the use of virtual vs.
in-person care for your ongoing relationship.

12. 9. FOLLOW YOUR CARE PLAN
•The careplanisthebridge between appointments.
•Your medicalteamistrustingthistreatmentplanishappening whenyouare
notintheiroffice.
•If things change outside of their office, let them know so they can partner with
you around adjusting the plan.