Tips For Your Next Doctor Appointment from a Seattle Medical Trauma Therapist
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A significant predictor related to you getting good care starts with picking your healthcare practitioners. You can also improve your experience at the doctor’s office if you know your tendencies and prepare ahead of time. Here are some tips to help you have a better experience at your next appointment.
What’s Trauma Informed Care?
Trauma informed care provides a framework that encourages safety, choice and empowerment. Instead of asking ‘what’s wrong with you’ a TIC perspective asks, ‘what happened to you.’ This approach leads to a more client centered, collaborative interaction and is centered at preventing harm. This is different from historical care approaches that came from a ‘top down’ expert approach. In an expert approach, the client is often spoken down to, and treatment becomes cookie cutter rather than tailored to specific needs of a person. For people who’ve had negative or traumatic experiences with the healthcare system, that can lead to avoidance and eventually poor mental and physical health outcomes.
Tips For Your Next Appointment From a Seattle Trauma Therapist
Do Your Research:
Some of the best referrals are word of mouth, so ask around! Not only ask your friends and community but ask other providers you already have good relationships with who they might recommend. If you come up short asking around, do some internet research. I don’t recommend completely relying on ratings on different sites because anyone can write those and such feedback often falls on office staff rather than the provider themselves. Ask specific communities you’re part of, such as LGBTQ+ affirmative organizations, reproductive justice organizations or other specific groups. Ultimately, your experience is unique, so at times you may have to just try an appointment or take the provider up on a free consultation to see how you fit with them.
Credentials Matter:
Credentials matter and aren’t everything at the same time. If you are able to chat with a provider during a consultation, ask not only about their education but experience in working with whatever specific issues is important to you.
Complete an ROI (Release of Information):
If there are providers you work with and trust, considering completing a release of information so your trusted provider can discuss your treatment and advocate for you with other providers.
Create a Scheduling System:
Many people have a hard time of keeping appointments straight and managing a schedule. If this is you, get some help from loved ones and take some time for trial and error. Set reminders on your phone, get a physical calendar, use sticky notes. The same person you might ask to come to your appointment can be a good reminder buddy as well.
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Bring a Buddy:
It can be helpful bringing someone you trust to appointment to have another set of eyes and ears. If you’re going to have a procedure done and can’t find anyone to come with you, request an additional provider be in the room with you.
Call Ahead:
Some offices do better than others, but it can be helpful to call ahead and let the office know your needs ahead of time. For example, you may request to go straight to an exam room upon entering, request not to be weighed, or other requests that will increase your sense of safety.
Accessibility:
Is the office ADA compliant and able to meet your needs? Inquire about the accessibility of the office and surrounding building. Check to see if the exam table, chairs, bathrooms etc. meet your needs (weight limits, mobility). Ask about building access and parking. Unfortunately, most offices do not meet the needs of fat patients, making it more important that you know what the facility does or doesn’t offer.
Write Notes Before, During, and After:
Before your appointment, keep a list on paper or your phone of questions, concerns, or specific points you want to address during your appointment. Many times appointments are rushed and so you want to make sure you address what you wanted. Let your support person make notes during the appointment and review the note from your provider after the appointment. You have the right to your records and most portals allow you to access your records easily. This can help you make a game plan for next steps.
Self-soothe:
If you experience anxiety related to going into a medical office or appointment, it can be helpful to address this with a therapist. You can also work on breathing techniques to calm your nervous system, grounding techniques to keep you in the present moment, and other self-soothing techniques that will help you manage stress.
Be Strategic Regarding Scheduling:
You’re the expert on you. You know when the best time for an appointment is during your day. Especially if you know you get anxious beforehand or need to let loss afterward. Be mindful of how the timing of the appointment may impact your day.
Decompress Afterward:
Related to the above suggestion, it can be helpful to plan a relaxing or fun activity right after an appointment to help you chill or process what’s going on with you. It can be really helpful to decompress and talk about how the appointment went with someone you know and trust, or snuggle with an animal that helps you relax.
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Give Feedback:
Nowadays many clinics, especially big ones offer surveys and feedback forms for clients. Some doctors even has their pay based on such information! If you feel up to it, take the time to give positive feedback or constructive feedback. Both can be helpful for the provider and office staff to improve the client experience. Plus, people working in the medical field can always use some positivity.
You don’t have to face grief, anxiety, or trauma alone. If you’re struggling existing in your mind or body, reach out and schedule a free consultation today. Together we can work on building flexibility, support and hope.
Check out my specialties here: anxiety, grief, medical trauma, chronic illness, pregnancy loss, infertility, menopause
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