What to do about follow up doctor's appointment?
1] most common blood tests are complete in hours, not days 2] call the doctor's office right away - esp if you can't make the appt tomorrow. There COULD be a problem with your blood work - better find out.
After your visit to your doctor, would you like to get a follow up email from your doctor in the next 3 days or so? Would you consider it valuable or don't you care?
I think that would be a fantastic idea!Although study results vary, the evidence is clear: Most patients retain only a small (25% -33%) fraction of the information that their doctor dispenses. Of that fraction, only a significantly smaller fraction is clearly understood. This information includes instructions on how to take medication, what side effects to look out for, and how/when/why they should return to be seen.Moreover, the vast majority of malpractice lawsuits are based on poor doctor communication skills and probably one of the biggest complaints patients voice is not about the doctor's professional incompetence but of his/her poor communication skills.It's no news that doctors have very little time with patients (some studies quote 8.5 minutes!) and that the patient-doctor dynamic is weighed against encouraging the patient to express concerns, ask questions, or request clarification.So, a well-written follow-up email with a clearly worded and concise SUMMARY of the patient's visit (Complaint, Exam Findings, Diagnosis, Discussed Treatments, Agreed Plan, Patient Instructions) along with the patient's contact details and a kindly worded sentence would, in my opinion, go a very long way in a patient's understanding of what is happening with their health and what is being done about it and it would greatly enhance their overall satisfaction with their doctor.
Do you think that a doctor or the doctor's office should follow up on a patient who has a severe condition and doesn't return for a follow up visit?
This one that is not clearly YES or NO.IF a follow up is recommended but the person doesnt make the appointment then maybe they have already decided. THATIt no use going to hear just a load of platitudeswhy waste the docs time on them when there is no answerand maybe they just want to get on with their life the way they are without added side effects of a ‘just try this medication’ pillI have chosen no follow up, there is no cure, there is no treatment. So why bother going, The few times I have gone seeking the status of my condition I consider that I am abused by being asked if I drink. when it should be well documented that I dont and the reason for my problem is surgical woopsies. And the refusal of the doctors to show or tell me anything of the scans I have had doneBUT if a person makes an appointment and so wastes that time, then maybe check they havent started pushing up daisies, ask why and let well alone, and charge the default charge
Should I still follow up with my doctor if I feel better?
Yes, you should follow up. Your primary care physician knows you better than an urgent care provider.
My doctor wants me to come in to do a follow up on my blood results.?
I had the test on a Friday and got a message from the receptionist at my doctor's office the following Monday. When I called in, the receptionist asked if I could come in this week. I asked if it was bad news and she said she could't say. Is this something I should worry about or is it routine that the doctor wants to see a patient in person to discuss any lab results?
Should I be worried if my doctor called for a follow up appointment?
I had my first Gyno exam on December 5th. Two weeks passed and I wasn't worried. Three weeks passed and I got a call requesting I schedule a follow up appointment. I asked if it was standard she told me yes and that I should've scheduled one after my exam. I asked if everything was okay over the phone and she told me she couldn't disclose results like that. I'm nervous something is wrong :(
Why would my doctor scold me for not following up? He told me the insurance companies give him a negative mark because I wound up in the emergency room for dizziness possibly from my recent diabetes diagnosis that I didn't follow through with.
Let me answer as a medical social worker.You doctor probably shouldn’t scold you BUT one of the constant complaints for those of us in ER’s is that we see a patient, refer them to a doctor for follow up and then they don’t follow up and end up back in the ER. That’s bad medicine for you and costs someone a lot of dough as emergency room medicine is really costly. I was frequently asked to talk to patients about that and try to get them to follow up appropriately as continuity of care is really important in medicine especially for chronic diseases like diabetes. We want to educate and motivate patients so they get the best care that is appropriate for the situation. Often the ER is not that place. We are best at the bad stuff that needs emergency care. The chronic stuff is better handled in an ongoing relationship with your primary care or specialist physician.
How do doctors feel when patients don't come for follow-up?
Patients often don’t come back for follow up.In my experience, it’s because the symptoms that brought them to me in the first place have resolved. I usually find out about that during their next annual checkup. In that case, I really don’t care very much.If, however, they don’t come for follow up, but ask for their medical records (or I find out that she went to another doctor), I usually get pretty insulted. I justify it by telling myself that she was pretty _____________ anyway (nasty, bitchy, rude, stupid, arrogant, sanctimonious, etc., etc.).She, I imagine, will justify her change of physician by telling herself that I was _____________ (nasty, bitchy, rude, stupid, arrogant, sanctimonious, etc., etc.).I do feel like an ass, however, when I see the patient 3 years later, only to find out that they had moved to Barranquilla, and are just getting back.C’est la vie.
What usually follows if a doctor wants a "follow up" appointment after blood work?
They are calling you back in to go over the results. I can tell you already, Triglycerides are to high, LOSE WEIGHT Cholesterol is too high and too much "bad "(LDL) and not enough "good"(HDL). DIET and EXERCISE Blood glucose is too high, STOP DRINKING AND LAY OFF THE CARBS. Too much body fat and cholesterol EXERCISE and DIET. They will also look at electrolytes like sodium and potassium. What they may not say is that blood pressure, cholesterol, triglycerides and body fat are the easiest thing to treat With diet and exercise and the hardest to treat with chemicals (which cause potency and kidney problems) That information does not sell pharmaceuticals though so be careful if they want to medicate immediately. One's blood work can prove or disprove a number of things. Whats even more sick is that they are usually right.
Is a follow up visit to the doctor necessary if you are feeling better?
Yes, some disease do need follow up visit and checkup, because some virus dont die that easily and if you stop taking drug virus may evolve and become more dangerous.Such as Tuberculoses (TB), this disease need 6 month of treatment, you might feel better half way in treatment but if you stop taking medicine then the virus of TB will evolve and become dangerous, then same drugs will no longer work on that TB virus.So its better to listen to a doctor and follow proper treatment.You did not mention and disease in your question so, it actually depend upon the disease.