How to Communicate with Your Loved Ones Doctor

There may be multiple reasons why you want to chat with your loved one’s doctor, including your concern for your loved one’s health or asking for more information. It can be intimidating to talk to medical professionals, especially if they are not your own personal doctor. It is important to note that if you are going to your loved one’s doctor to get personal information about their medical conditions and health, they are legally obligated to keep that information private. You should never expect a doctor to disclose private information, as they have laws to abide by and you should respect that. However, here are some reasons why you could speak with them, as well as how to speak with your loved one’s medical professional team.

If your loved one has an illness or diagnosis that you are unsure of, try asking them about their condition. Often times, they may feel overwhelmed or confused and not be able to offer you much information. This is an example of when it is appropriate to speak to your loved one’s medical professional team. Try giving their office a call and explain the situation in detail. Let them know that you would like information, not necessarily about your loved one’s health, but about the condition and diagnosis that he or she received. You can ask them if they have brochures for you to pick up, if you can come in to talk for about thirty minutes or if they have support groups you can reach out to. It is important to remember that their job is to protect client’s privacy, so refrain from asking them to go into great detail about your loved one’s health.

If you are concerned about your loved one and their health, it is important to evaluate the gravity of the situation. If the condition of your love one is not grave enough to call 911, make sure you write down all of the things that you are concerned about and give their doctor a call. You can describe to the doctor what is worrying you and ask them if they have any advice or what the next steps are. It is important to remember that your loved one’s health and happiness is the goal of both you and their medical team and that they will take the necessary actions to make sure your loved one is taken care of. Express your concerns and allow them time to respond, give advice and come up with a plan.

When you are communicating with a medical professional on behalf of someone else, it is important to remember that respect is key. You should respect their promise to keep patient information private and their time may be limited. Keeping your loved one’s doctors’ information in your home allows you to call them if the need arises, but remember to not contact them unless you have a valid reason to do so.