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Welcome to Healthcare Redefined: Advocating for Aging Adults and Their Families, where we empower families to navigate the complexities of aging and healthcare. Presented by Your Nurse Advocate Consulting, we share real stories, expert advice, and practical tools to help you and your loved ones confidently navigate aging with dignity.
We explore topics like creating collaborative care plans, demystifying Medicare, handling healthcare crises, and preparing for the future. Join us as we transform uncertainty into understanding.
Pam Dunwald: [00:00:00] Have you ever left a doctor appointment in person or virtual and realized you're not totally sure what the plan is?
Linda Kritikos: [00:00:07] Or even maybe hung up from a telehealth visit and think, hmm, did I cover everything I needed to cover? I'm not quite sure I understand this.
Pam Dunwald: [00:00:17] You know, if that's you, you're in the right place. This is podcast Healthcare Redefined: Advocating for Aging Adults and Their Family. And I'm Pam. How are you?
Linda Kritikos: [00:00:27] And I am Linda. We're both registered nurses and we're both board-certified patient advocates. We help families feel less overwhelmed and a lot more confident when they're caring for their aging loved ones.
Pam Dunwald: [00:00:39] You know, today's episode is number 11, How to Run a Doctor Appointment Like an Advocate, whether it's in person, a telehealth visit or by phone. And, you know, we're talking about how to run a doctor appointment like an advocate. So we're going to give you some tips and strategies. Being an advocate doesn't mean that, you know, you have to be rude or forward or hardcore, but it's about getting what, it's about getting what our aging loved one needs at that doctor appointment.
Linda Kritikos: [00:01:11] Yes. So exactly. It's actually basically being that voice, the voice, because a lot of times they don't use their voice or they don't know what they don't know. So we're going to walk you through what you need to do before the visit. So you're prepared what to say during the visit, so you know what questions to ask and how to follow through afterwards so you leave with clarity and next steps. So you feel confident in that visit that you've made.
Pam Dunwald: [00:01:41] You know, we're also going to cover a big question that we hear all the time is, how do you advocate for your loved one without speaking over them? And how do you stay within the right boundaries?
Linda Kritikos: [00:01:51] Just a quick note before we start with this. This episode is basically for education and advocacy support. It's not medical advice. And we will talk about consent and privacy. So you can do this the right way.
Pam Dunwald: [00:02:05] You know, and stay tuned, and make sure you check out the show notes, because we're going to have a couple of resources for you. We're going to have a [00:02:12] prep for the doctor appointment guide. [00:02:13] And then on the flip side, on the back side of that, we're going to have a free after the, you know, [00:02:19] after the visit checklist. [00:02:20] So we'll have two of those resources for you.
Linda Kritikos: [00:02:23] So you can grab it in the show notes and use it as a checklist on your phone and print it out before your next visit.
Pam Dunwald: [00:02:29] All right. Let's go ahead and get into this. So Linda, you go first.
Linda Kritikos: [00:02:33] Okay. So doctor visits can always feel very rushed. I don't know about any of you, but I definitely see a difference in the doctor visits from ten years ago to what they are today. They can be a lot more confusing, a lot more rushed, especially when you're trying to help someone or an aging parent. I mean, I know it can be confusing for me, and sometimes I walk out of there feeling that I didn't get all my questions answered or I didn't quite understand what they were saying. So in this episode, we're going to walk you through a simple advocate-style way to prep, run the visit, and follow up so you leave with clear next steps without talking over your loved one's voice. And feeling like you have the confidence to work with them and take them through those next steps. So again, we're sharing education and advocacy tips, not medical advice. And we'll talk about privacy and consent so you can stay within appropriate boundaries.
Pam Dunwald: [00:03:32] You know, you said something Linda, that really kind of triggered a memory. I know the last episode we were talking with Viki Droegkamp, who is a clinic RN, and we were going through how to use your clinic as really a resource. But what it dawned on me is when we were, when you mentioned that, you know, doctor's appointments aren't what they used to be, I think, and we talked about it a little bit in that episode, that I think a lot of people don't understand that, that annual Medicare visit, people are saying, you know, they're not listening to my lungs, they're not doing this. You know, they didn't touch me. They just asked me a bunch of questions. And so that, you know, Medicare annual visit is more like an interview and it's not really an exam. So I think a lot of people misunderstand. And like you said, you know, the doctor's appointments are really changing. So have you ever hung up from a doctor appointment or virtual in-person and realized you don't know what the plan is or what the doctor actually decided? So, relatively now visits are shorter. One of the problems is your aging loved one may minimize symptoms. We hear this all the time, and this is one of the reasons why Linda and I like to get on virtually for doctor's appointments. The, you know, our client just puts us on speakerphone, and we can ask questions. And it's nice because we know what's going on. And if they're not bringing up certain things, we can kind of interject. So families are juggling a lot, and a lot of times the families don't know anymore because they're maybe they're long distance or maybe not with them. So telehealth really adds some tech, and that can add some challenges for our aging loved ones. So these are, you know, some of the differences that we see today versus years ago. So by the end of this episode, we really want you to know what to do before, during, and after the appointment.
Pam Dunwald: [00:05:22] You know how to advocate without speaking over your loved one, making sure that they are a part of the conversation, and, if able, that they're making those decisions. What to do if you can't attend the, you know, in person to the doctor visit, and also how to handle some concerns when the real story isn't being shared. And oftentimes, that's what we hear from a lot of the aging adults, is they don't feel that maybe their aging loved one is, you know, forthwith, you know, forthcoming with everything that's going on. And we talked about the free resources for you. So again, watch for those in the show notes. Linda, go ahead.
Linda Kritikos: [00:05:59] Okay. So let's get you into the advocate mindset, because that's a little different in the way that you're going to be working with your loved one and their healthcare provider. But just a key point here for you to take a look at is your job is not to control the visit. It's to support, provide some clarity, accuracy, and follow through. So the three goals that we want you to remember for every appointment are to make sure you're sharing the right information. What are the symptoms? Have the symptoms changed in any way? Have there been any changes in regards to your loved one's care, or in their mentation, or in their function? Have they had any falls recently? Have there been any meds that have been ordered by other physicians? What types of medications are they taking? Are they being compliant with their medications? And what other concerns do you have in regards to their healthcare? And make sure that you get a clear plan before you leave in regards to the tests that need to be ordered.
Linda Kritikos: [00:07:06] Any medication changes that need to be looked at or be discussed in regards to educating and making sure that there's compliance being followed. Any types of referrals for physical therapy or for a specialist? And what types of follow-up do you need in regards to those lab tests or X-rays? Who is going to follow up on that? And then make sure that you confirm understanding. What we always say is verbalize understanding in your own words. So when they give you this information, confirm it back to them in your own words. Also know what to watch for, when to call, what's considered urgent. All of those things are really important. So your three goals, just as we said, are to make sure you're sharing the right information, leaving and getting a clear plan, and then confirming understanding of that plan. So before can we, you know, take a look at this and talk about this in plain language. So you need to make sure that everything that you're discussing with the doctor is in terms that both you and your loved one understand, because a lot of times, I can tell you some of the conversations is not related to a layperson's understanding. It's a lot of medical terminology. A lot of the tests are in medical language, so you need to make sure it's in plain language. So Pam, up to you now.
Pam Dunwald: [00:08:35] Alrighty. So moving on to the next section is we're going to talk about before the appointment, the ten minute prep. And so the first part of that is set the agenda. I mean this is the big, you know, game changer. And that's why we have this prep for the doctor appointment form. It's a simple one-page form, but it helps you organize your thoughts and helps you choose the top 2 to 3 priorities. The doctors are going to be in and out. You're going to feel pressured, and sometimes people get intimidated. You know, the doctors they're on, you know they have to move on to the next patient. So really pick your battles when you're in that doctor appointment. Don't try and conquer the world in one visit. So pick 2 or 3 priorities. What is the most important things? Because the doctor isn't going to have a lot of time, and you want them to be able to answer your questions and get to the problems and spend as much time on what needs to be spent on. So, for example, new confusion in the last, you know, in the evenings for the last three weeks. That's very concrete. Write them down so that you can easily retrieve them when you're feeling pressured or feeling like the doctor's in a hurry.
Pam Dunwald: [00:09:44] Another example would be two falls since the last visit to the doctor's office. Again, that's concrete information. It's very quick. It's very simple, but it says a lot. And then a third example would be medication side effects. Since we started this new medication, my mom is complaining about dizziness after every morning dose. Okay. That is very specific. And it gives the doctor a very objective and a quick thing to react to. So step B, bring the advocate packet. And what's that advocate packet? Well current medication list. Make sure you include over-the-counter medications and supplements. My mother-in-law had, it was a great example with her. She was taking a joint supplement that had turmeric in it, and then on top of that she was taking a turmeric supplement, and she went to the doctor and she had a kidney injury. And in going through the medications, the doctor was very good about. Have you added any supplements? Are you doing this? And she says, oh yes, you know, and she talked about the joint supplement with the turmeric and adding extra turmeric. So she cut out the turmeric supplement. And by the time she went to her next doctor appointment, her kidney labs had returned to normal. So we're not saying that that is going to happen to everyone that takes turmeric.
Pam Dunwald: [00:11:03] That's not the point of why we're saying this. We're saying this to make sure you understand that letting your doctor know what supplements or herbs you're taking is really important, because they need to help you understand if there could be any interactions. So we make sure we have the correct allergies. And what happens when you're allergic to something if they ask you, oh, you have an allergic to penicillin, what happens? Do you get itchy? You get a rash. I have an allergy to sulfa. What happens when I have when I take sulfa, my face swells. So I get swelling. So make sure you know what kind of reaction they have. Any recent vital signs? If you've been asked to keep a log or a checklist. Weights, blood pressures, blood sugars. Make sure you bring that with. Any recent emergency room visits, the doctor may need to know about? Your list of questions. Again, keep those to those 2 to 3. A video or a photo evidence is helpful if you can bring in if they're dizzy or they're walking funny or they're disorientated. If you have a little video that will really be helpful too. And remember, track the patterns, like we said, keep a log or some kind of a book, something to record all these things. The next thing is, is consent and rules. Make sure that you're protecting the relationship. If you want to be added to the MyChart, make sure that your aging loved one gives you that permission and gives you that proxy.
Pam Dunwald: [00:12:31] Again, they are the driver. They, as long as they're deemed competent, they need to make their own decisions. So. And ask them, do you want me to take notes? Do you want me to take notes, dad? If you forgot something, is it okay for me to jump in? Again, just make sure that you have those boundaries, and if you want to speak to the doctor without your loved one present, ask the office what's allowed and how they handle it. Because with this, this came up just with another one of our clients because she has dementia, but the client doesn't really didn't want to really admit that they had the cognitive challenges. So the family asked to speak to the doctor privately, and then they all spoke together. So in many situations, you can share concerns with the provider, but the provider may not be able to share details back without the permission of the patient. So again, a simple script might be I'm not asking you to share private information with me, I'm calling to share what I'm seeing at the home because I'm worried. So that's, you know, that's very different. You're not asking the doctor to share. You want to make sure the doctor knows what you're seeing. So, Linda, you want to go on to the next segment.
Linda Kritikos: [00:13:39] Let's talk about what happens during the appointment. The in-person appointment. So we have kind of like a three-seat approach to this. So let the patient lead, let your loved one lead when possible, because it really is about them. So we really don't want to speak for them or over them. So we want to let them lead the conversation. And then we support it with any evidence or with any types of specifics that we may have in regards to that. And then we want to make sure that the provider has understood all this and confirms the plan. And some of the best practices is to keep and to keep the loved one as an active participant. So that's why it's important to allow the patient or your loved one to lead whenever possible. You know, ask your loved one first how have you been feeling? And then add specifics in regards to what you've noticed in regards to their health changes, because a lot of times they don't want to always say what they're feeling. They'll tell you what you want to hear, but not necessarily what anyone needs to know. They may say, oh, it was just a little fall. I'm okay. No, mom, there's a large bruise on your leg from this fall and you're complaining of hip pain. So those are the things that you may have to bring them back into kind of a reality mode because you want to do what's best for them, but you don't want to take away their autonomy.
Linda Kritikos: [00:15:06] So you want to make sure that you use some bridge phrases such as, would it be okay if I add something, mom or dad? Or, so you know, John, Paul, whoever it is, you know, would it be okay if I add something to this conversation? And I want to make sure, another one would be something like, I want to make sure you don't forget this because this is really important. Remember we discussed this at home? And then, can I clarify what I'm seeing at home? These are types of questions that actually allow the conversation to be bridged from what the loved one is saying to the provider and what you've noticed and what may also have been documented. So you want to make sure that you're asking for plain language in your next steps. So ask the doctor to explain it in a way that your loved one can understand. So what would be the most likely cause for these issues? You know, what are we trying to rule out? But again stated, have him state it in a language that they can understand. And what's really important, and I've seen this happening more and more, and I'm actually really thankful of it, is the healthcare providers are actually, you know, they're sitting down. Yes, they're in front of a computer, but when they're talking to you, they're actually turning their chair and they're actually giving you facial contact instead of talking to you, looking at the computer.
Linda Kritikos: [00:16:25] So I'm finding that that's been a really great educational uptick for our healthcare providers. So you also want to make sure that you're asking, you know, what should we do first and make sure that they're explaining it in a set of priorities. You know, what is the first step? What would we be doing second, and what would be the follow-up? And then what would make this urgent? What symptoms would they be expressing that would make them call 911, or need to go to an urgent care or an emergency room? And then make sure that you are closing the loop on this conversation before you leave. So you want to make sure you're repeating back the plan, making sure that your loved one can repeat the plan in their own words so it verbalizes their understanding, confirm medications on what's changed, what to take, if there's any medications that are to be discontinued, make sure that's all reviewed 1 or 2 times. Make sure it's in writing. It can be placed in part of that after visit summary. So make sure those things are incorporated into it and confirm the follow-up. Who is scheduling? What type of scheduling appointments do we need? When is it to be scheduled, and what can we expect for these things? So Pam, I'm going to lead it off to you for telehealth visits.
Pam Dunwald: [00:17:47] Alrighty. So the next segment, we just wanted to talk about telehealth visits. And the one thing that we want to say about that is a telehealth visit is still a real appointment. So we want to treat it like one. So we're going to prep the same way, but with a few exceptions. Now here's where the technology comes in. So you may need to be or have someone at your client's home. We have a client right now that the children are all long-distance, but we have a caregiving organization that comes in just a couple of days a week, and they come in and they can help set up the computer and make sure that they get on. So there's ways around everything. So there's always a fix. But you want to test the link or you know, the login, ten minutes early. And that's okay, they may not be on, but you just want to make sure that you can get on and that everything is working properly. You may have to change devices. You may be able to do it on your phone or a tablet, like an iPad or on a laptop, and use headphones if needed. Sometimes headphones can really improve the sound quality, and it also helps with background noise so that you can actually hear better. And that might help your aging loved one.
Pam Dunwald: [00:19:04] And then have a quiet space with good lighting that's, you know, important as part of the setup for the telehealth. So when you're looking at your camera placement and observation, make sure, that's another thing, if your loved one has a laptop, make sure it actually has a camera because it's important. If they can't see you, that's all part of the telehealth visit. So position the camera so the provider can see your face and your upper body. And the next thing is, is if mobility is a concern, be ready to show walking in a few, you know, few steps. If someone's using a phone or an iPad, they can actually, you know, show during the visit how you're walking. So there is a lot that we can still do with a telehealth visit. And my one plug I want to say for telehealth visit is it got a kind of a bad rap in the beginning, but we were forced to use it because of Covid. But there's, the technology is, you can really do a lot. They have Bluetooth stethoscopes, they can actually do a lot of things on a telehealth visit. So they can be very helpful, especially for those aging loved ones that have a hard time getting out of the house. So if you can't attend in person with them, maybe speakerphone or three way call.
Pam Dunwald: [00:20:16] So we use this a lot. Linda and I have clients all over the United States, and we have clients, we'll go in, put us on speakerphone, or we even have some clients that have a caregiver that takes us to the takes them to the appointment, and they still put us on speakerphone so that we can hear the doctor or visit. So if allowed, you know, maybe have the patient say at the beginning, I give permission for my daughter, my son, my RN advocate to be on the call with me. And that really takes the pressure off the provider having to ask because they want to make sure that it's okay for them to address your healthcare needs in front of someone else. Ask permission before recording. That's a big kind of a common courtesy. And if recording isn't allowed, you can also take notes. And like Linda said before, make sure you repeat back in your own words to make sure that you're getting the proper understanding. And so these are just some tips and strategies for telehealth. And just remember, telehealth can be a good replacement for a visit when an aging adult has trouble actually getting into the doctor's office. So, Linda, I'm going to turn it over to you for the next segment.
Linda Kritikos: [00:21:30] Yeah, this is kind of a continuation of what we were talking about before. It's basically when the patient doesn't share the full story. I don't know about you, but you know, with my parents and some of my clients, they have a tendency not to always tell the whole story. Sometimes it's because they can't remember the whole story, sometimes because they feel embarrassed about what's happened, especially if it's a fall. A lot of times, or if it's like incontinence, a lot of times they are very embarrassed about these types of things, so they may not tell the whole story about what's happening. So part of it is also that they fear losing their independence. And if they have memory issues, again, as I said, they may not remember what happened. So they may not have the whole story or it gets jumbled in their thought processes. And then sometimes it's they just don't truly notice changes. Oh, what do you mean? I've got a skin tear on my arm. What do you mean I've got that bruise over there? I don't know where I got it, I don't remember. So you try to normalize why this happens. So but you do need to get the whole story, and so does the health care provider.
Linda Kritikos: [00:22:41] So things that you can do in that moment is to kind of use some neutral observations, such as 'I've noticed' versus 'you always'. 'You always' puts them on the defensive, whereas 'I've noticed', it speaks to you and what you have noticed. So it doesn't put them in wanting to be defensive or shutting down in providing more information. So make sure that you give time frames and examples like this happened yesterday or this happened this last weekend, and provide the example so that, and provide it in a way that doesn't, isn't patronizing or condescending to the loved one, or to make sure that you're getting all the information out there but in a way that doesn't embarrass the loved one. So make sure that you're bringing all your data, such as a fall log, a medication list, any type of readings that you may have been asked to take before, such as blood pressure, blood glucose, those types of things. So you want to make sure that you share all of that information. And if you need to share concerns privately, send the message through the patient portal. So it's really important that you get access to that patient portal. Last week's episode did talk about it, as with our guest Viki Droegkamp, which she talked about the importance of using that patient portal.
Linda Kritikos: [00:24:08] And it's their first access to getting information in a timely manner and getting it back to you. So another thing that you can do is call the nurse line or drop off a written note at check-in. So you know, there's, you know, you want to say things that are making things more positive for them. So, and showing that you care. So things like saying I'm concerned about your safety at home. So these are some examples from the last month in regards to, you know, that you weren't safe at home. You left the stove on when you had a pot on there and walked away, and forgot it was on, and the bottom of the pot burned. Do you remember that? Do you remember when you fell and hurt your arm? So these are things that you sometimes need to bring up to them. And because they may not remember it or they may be pooh-poohing it, because to them it's not important, and it's an embarrassment, and it's a sign that they are getting older, and they may not be as safe or as functional as they were before. And that's hard for people to deal with.
Linda Kritikos: [00:25:14] I mean, it's hard for me to deal with things that at my age that I can't do anymore. So I can just imagine how difficult it can be for someone who's older and is losing some of their function or their mentation. So make sure you keep the trust with your loved one. Avoid surprising them in front of the doctor when possible. Do not blindside them. I never want to be blindsided, so please do not blindside your loved one. That is not good because they're not going to want you to go with them the next time, or they're not going to share information with you anymore because they feel that you've embarrassed them. So make sure you have a pre-visit conversation, also. I'm worried about whether you're okay, so can I bring this up? So just talk with them about this, saying, you know, I'm really, really concerned about these things. It's okay if I talk for you about this or with you or if you want to bring it up, that's fine. But can I help share my perceptions and what I've noticed? So you definitely want them to be the active participant in this arena, so that you can get the most information in a timely manner to the provider. Pam.
Pam Dunwald: [00:26:25] Yeah, I'm going to go ahead and we're going to move on to the next segment. And that's staying within proper boundaries. And this is really important. Linda's touched on some really good items in her segment. And remember advocacy is supporting the patient's goals and safety. Control is speaking over them or making decisions without them. So obviously, advocacy is all about support. And we don't want to do control. I mean, I don't know how many times Linda and I have said this, you know, with families is, you know, sometimes aging adults don't make what we feel are the best decisions. But the bottom line is, is if they're capable of making them, they're still competent and can make their own healthcare decisions. They do have the right to make the wrong decisions. We may not like what they decide, but that's their right to make those choices. So we really want to make sure that our opinions and how we feel it should go doesn't get in the way of what they want. And sometimes that can be really, really hard. So we're going to talk about some practical guardrails. And what do we mean by that? So ask permission before you add details. You know, use the patient's own words when possible. Mom, remember when you told me, this is exactly what you said, when you get up in the morning, you get dizzy. You know, it takes about 5 or 10 minutes, and then it passes.
Pam Dunwald: [00:27:55] Another thing would be focus on safety and functions. Focus on the falls, the medications, the confusion, the nutrition. Mom when I, is it okay if I share that when I came to visit two months ago, you know, you were in a, you know, larger, your clothes were kind of tight. Now your clothes are loose and some of them seem to be falling off. So again, focus on what you can see, touch, feel, hear, and, you know, use your senses. So you want to also keep the tone respectful and calm. It's not the time to get, you know, there's a lot of family dynamics, and in the doctor's office is not the time to have one of those conversations. We're here to make sure that we're doing what we can to get your aging loved one the health care that they need in a timely fashion. So if capacity is concerned. So if, for example, if you're seeing signs of cognitive decline, ask the provider, can we do a brief cognitive screen or what support should we put in place? So make sure that you're, if you have immediate concerns, that you're getting those addressed. And what can we do now while we're figuring, you know, figuring out the rest of this? So again, make sure take notes, write things down and use good examples. So Linda, I'm going to turn it back over to you for the next segment.
Linda Kritikos: [00:29:21] Yeah just a just a little after note on this last section. I had a client, and I was with her when her nurse practitioner came over to her apartment to actually meet with her, and her daughter was there. Well, the client was her own person, and she was a very, very open and very she knew exactly what she wanted, when she wanted it and how she wanted it. Well, her daughter wouldn't let her get a word in edgewise. She took over the conversation, telling the nurse practitioner what she felt her mom's needs were, what she felt that should be done about it, and her mom literally got up, looked at her and said, well, since this is since you decided you're going to talk to me, I don't even need to be in this room with you. And she literally walked away from her and said, I will not be undermined and talked to like that. So we really have to remember how important it is to include them and realize that these people have lived long lives and have been independent and have been able to take care of themselves for many, many years. So to usurp them in that way and to take over the conversation is only going to react, going to be a negative response to you. So please know that it's about them, not you. And also in this last segment, just to not digress any further, after the appointment, and just remember, the appointments are usually about 10 or 15 minutes.
Linda Kritikos: [00:30:49] So you have to get a lot of things taken care of in that very short amount of time. So you do need to keep it to the point. So after the appointment, for the follow-through, you want to make sure that you write a simple summary. And sometimes part of that will be part of that visit summary, it may not be. A lot of times the visit summary only includes what happened right then at that point, and the fact that you may have some appointments scheduled, but you want to write a simple summary so that you understand what's happened and you can relate it to at a later date. You want to make sure that the med list is updated, and that you schedule all the referrals or the test. Sometimes the doctors or the healthcare providers will say, well, they will call you within the next 24 to 48 hours to schedule you for that mammogram or schedule you for that X-ray. If you do not hear from them within that time frame, you need to contact the healthcare provider's office again to find out what happened to that referral. Because a lot of times, if that referral did not get in there or it got crossed, they're not going to, they're not going to know. So if you call that X-ray department or the mammography department, they may not have that appointment in the system. So it's better to call the doctor appointment or call the doctor's office or the healthcare provider's office and find out what happened to that referral, because I haven't heard from them.
Linda Kritikos: [00:32:16] So please make sure that you follow up on all those things, because they're really important. And a lot of times you're not going to be able to get in real quickly either on some of these things. So you need to make sure that you're getting that follow-through and getting in as soon as possible. And make sure that you follow up with the dates on a calendar in some place that both you and your loved one know when that follow-up appointment is. And always, always ask for written instructions on things that you want to make sure are clarified because they're not all the same. A visit summary may be very detailed. It may not be. After visit notes are a lot of times progress notes that are written very, very medically. So it may be hard to understand. So you want to make sure that you have written instructions in a way that you can understand them. And you also want to make sure that you're looking at the messages in the portal. Just know, though, that sometimes the messages in the portal can be very medically verbally driven, so some of the language in there may not be easily understood. So you need to make sure that you're getting information in the way that you can understand it. That is your right as a patient and a consumer of healthcare.
Pam Dunwald: [00:33:30] You know, I just want to add one more thing on that. When we talk about the medication list, this just happened last week with a current client of ours. She was in the doctor appointment, I was on the phone virtually with her, the doctor was ordering her a prescription, the patient told the doctor where she wanted the prescription to go, and that was on Thursday. So today, the patient still didn't have the prescription. I called the clinic and they finally called me back, and they sent the prescription to the wrong pharmacy. And so we had them update the pharmacy in her MyChart. And so the client, you know, our client, the patient thought that she had done the right thing and she gave them the correct pharmacy during the doctor's visit, but it wasn't in the computer correctly. So lots of things. So again, another reason to have access to that MyChart so you can verify all these things that are in the, in your aging loved one's record. So let's go ahead and wrap this up. We've had a lot of information. And again I just want to say make sure you check the show notes for the transcription. And also for the two, the prep for the doctor appointment, and also the after-visit checklist. These are really going to help you. So quick recap. So before the visit, set your agenda, bring your medication list, any logs that you need. Decide ahead of time how you're going to support your loved one without taking over.
Linda Kritikos: [00:35:02] And that's really important. So during the visit, keep your loved one in the driver's seat as much as possible, making them an active participant in their care. Ask clear questions and don't leave until you understand the plan in plain language that you can repeat back to them in a way that you can understand.
Pam Dunwald: [00:35:24] You know, and after the visit, the follow-through matters. So update the med list, where the medication is going to go, is this a regular medicine? Do they have mail order? Is it going to have to be set up with your mail order because it's a new regular? Or is it just a short-term medicine that maybe needs to go to the regular pharmacy? So you want to make sure that you schedule the next steps, whether it's a follow-up appointment or whether it's to verify a service such as outpatient physical therapy. Make sure you write down the plan while it's still fresh in your mind. So, you know, try to do this as quickly as you can after the visit.
Linda Kritikos: [00:35:56] Yes, and remember, telehealth counts. If you can't be there in person, ask the office if you can join by speakerphone or like a three-way call, and have your loved one give permission at the start for you to be able to participate.
Pam Dunwald: [00:36:11] You know, if you, and as we mentioned, you know, we've got a simple checklist for you to use the next appointment. So download our free prep for the doctor appointment guide and also the after-visit checklist.
Linda Kritikos: [00:36:22] And so if you found this episode helpful, I know I have, please share it with a friend or a family member who's in the middle of caregiving.
Pam Dunwald: [00:36:32] You know, and make sure you're subscribed so you don't miss our future episodes. We've got a lot of great episodes planned for you, and we're just real excited to share this information with you.
Linda Kritikos: [00:36:42] So if you have a minute, leave a review. And it's one of the best ways to help us reach more people who need this information, and we truly appreciate any feedback that you can give us.
Pam Dunwald: [00:36:53] You know, thanks for spending time with us today.
Linda Kritikos: [00:36:56] So this is Linda.
Pam Dunwald: [00:36:58] And this is Pam.
Linda Kritikos: [00:36:59] Your nurse advocates.
Pam Dunwald: [00:37:01] And we're going to see you next time. So thanks for joining us. Take care.
Linda Kritikos: [00:37:04] Bye.