The take-along briefing
What would I like to ask before deciding?
Bring whichever questions fit your situation. Copy them onto a sheet with enough room to write what the doctor says.
My reason for the conversation
Give your concern a short description. You do not have to know which treatment, if any, will be discussed.
- What I have noticed is…
- The part of my day I want to talk about is…
- What I hope to understand is…
Questions about the assessment
Ask for an explanation of the decisions, rather than just the next task. Use whichever prompts fit the conversation.
- What do you need to find out about my concern?
- Why would this test or examination help?
- Who would explain the result?
- What other choices could we discuss?
Questions if medicine is proposed
Write the exact product name next to the answers. If a word is new to you, ask for it to be explained before moving on.
- What is the medicine meant to help with?
- What evidence supports using it for that purpose?
- Has the US Food and Drug Administration approved this exact medicine, or would someone make it to order for me?
- Why is this product being suggested for me?
- Which pharmacy would prepare or dispense it?
- What could go wrong, and how would we respond?
Questions before a commitment
Keep the cost conversation alongside the care conversation. Ask for the parts you still need in writing.
- What is included in the quote?
- What would I pay later?
- What would happen if I chose not to proceed?
- Who is responsible for follow-up?
- How would I reach them with a concern?
- When would we reconsider the plan?
An answer I want to come back to
It is fine to say, “Could we go over that again?” Take a moment to write what you understood. If the answer is still unclear, keep it as an open question.
- The answer in my words is…
- The part I still want explained is…