Do you ask your patients?

The evening news was on TV as I was preparing dinner one night last week. I didn’t catch the entire story, but at the tail end, I heard the reporter say, “Here are five questions you need to ask your doctor …”

I’ve often heard TV health reporters urgently counsel viewers to “ask your doctor” when they break stories on cholesterol, heart attacks, strokes, recalled pharmaceuticals or a myriad of other health-related topics.

But this time, as the reporter starting listing her questions, I thought, “Why? Why do patients have to ask their doctors? Why don’t doctors ask their patients?”

It’s not that I think consumers shouldn’t be empowered to take control of their health. Not at all. I think we should. I just think that relationships should never be one-sided.

In any relationship, each party has a responsibility to communicate. The same applies to the doctor-patient relationship. Both the patient and the doctor need to talk to each other — really talk and really listen.

For doctors, this means asking more than the typical “yes/no” questions, such as, “Do you smoke?” “Do you exercise?” “Do you use sun screen?” as well as questions concerned with more intimate bodily functions.

Medical doctors seem quick to pull out their prescription pads but slow to talk about healthcare alternatives, such as nutrition, weight management and protocol-based dietary supplementation — all of which can affect whole health.

Perhaps medical doctors don’t discuss these things because they don’t know how to ask.

Do you ask? Many patients go to chiropractors for one reason — to get rid of back pain. But pain management and nutrition management are not mutually exclusive.

Doctors who are uncomfortable trying to make the connection between chiropractic and nutrition will find this issue helpful.

For example: You’ll find suggestions on using a “patient diagnostic questionnaire” as part of the intake process. And you’ll learn how to coach your patients to nutrition success.

Other articles will give tips on setting up a nutritional component in your practice and will give you ideas about the types of dietary supplements to recommend and carry in your clinic.

I have a hunch that these articles will give you insights into nutrition and your patients will talk about you as the doctor who not only asks, but who cares.

Until next time,

Linda Segall, Editor-in-Chief

Let me know what’s on your mind:
904-285-6020, ext. 207
Fax: 904-280-1834
lsegall@chiroeco.com