Make the most of your child's doctor visit

I understand how frustrating it can be if you feel rushed out of a doctor's office, or if you feel like your doctor isn't giving you all the time you need. Many of the factors that create the system of 15- or 30-minute office visits frustrate me and many of my colleagues, too—for example, the way insurance companies reimburse us for our time.

We offer same day appointments to our patients because when a child is sick, you probably want to be seen that day. As a result, pediatric practices can be hectic. We want to give time and attention to each patient, but please understand some of the reasons that the waiting room is busy.

That said, if you feel ignored or that your concerns are not being heard, talk to your doctor about how you're feeling. If he or she still doesn't seem to hear you, you might want to think about switching doctors.

There are also things that you as the parent can do to make what short time you have with your child's doctor the most productive it can be. Here are some tips written by my colleague, Dr. Claire McCarthy.

The Basics

Some of these suggestions may seem obvious, but they are important:

• Be on time. If you're late, the doctor will have less time to spend with you.
• Don't send your child with somebody who doesn't know what's going on. So often, I have a family member or a babysitter who brings a patient in and can't tell me much about the child. This makes it much harder for me to be helpful.
• Limit distractions. If possible, leave the crazy toddler sibling with a neighbor so that you and the doctor aren't spending valuable getting him out of the sink, or entertaining him to keep him quiet. If the patient is the crazy toddler, bring toys or crayons or whatever he usually will play with quietly. While handheld video games can pass the time in the waiting room, shut them off when the doctor comes in. Shut off your cell phone, too. Distractions make it harder for everyone to pay attention and think.
• Have your child fully undressed when the doctor comes in. If we are ready to go, it's another timesaver.

Be Prepared

These make a huge difference!

• Write your questions down. A week or so before the visit, put a piece of paper up somewhere and jot things down as they come to you. Then bring the paper to the visit.
• Do your homework. This one's a biggie for me. If you have a concern about your child, bring as much information as possible. For example, if your child is having trouble in school, talk to the teacher before the appointment to find out how things are going. If your child is having a physical complaint, like headaches or stomachaches, keep a diary of how often they occur, and any associated details — what they ate, how much they slept, whether it was a stressful day and bowel habits. The more I know, the easier it will be for me to figure out what's going on and what to do.
• Bring your child's medications with you, or write them all down with the exact dose you are giving. This is especially important if someone besides your doctor, such as a specialist or emergency room doctor, has prescribed them. But do it even if your doctor has prescribed them to be sure you are giving them as directed. If you are using herbal medications, or giving vitamins, let the doctor know that, too.
• If you have forms you need filled out, bring them with you and give them to the doctor at the beginning of the visit. It's frustrating to have a parent say at the end, "Jimmy can't start baseball if we don't turn these papers in tomorrow," when I haven't allotted time to go over them.

If Time Runs Out...

• Please be understanding. If the doctor spends more time with you, it's going to mean less time for the next family, and that's not fair. (You wouldn't want to be that next family!)
• Make another appointment. Sometimes it's much better to spend an entire appointment just talking about your child's headaches, rather than trying to cram it into an annual checkup, when there's so much more to cover.
• Ask for resources. For example, if your child is over- or under-weight, your doctor may be able to give you written information about good nutrition and exercise options. The Internet also has a wealth of really good health information. Check with your doctor about which websites are best.
• Ask if there's anyone else who could help. If you have questions about how to use your child's inhaler, for example, a nurse could show you. An appointment with a nutritionist could help if your child is under- or overweight.
• Let your doctor know you have more to talk about. It breaks my heart when people don't tell me their other worries, or when they don't call me when they realize after the appointment that they forgot to mention something. Then stuff either festers and gets worse, or parents worry unnecessarily. If you let the doctor know there's more on your mind, together you can find a way to meet your needs.

Remember, you and your doctor have the same goal: To keep your child healthy and happy. Together, you can make it happen.

Do you have any tips for other parents in terms of making doctors' appointments go smoothly? Or do you have any questions for me about why a policy or procedure you've run into at your doctor's office?

Dr. Victoria McEvoy graduated from Harvard Medical School in 1975 and is currently an Assistant Professor of Pediatrics at HMS. She is the Medical Director and Chief of Pediatrics at Mass General West Medical Group. She has practiced pediatrics for almost thirty years. She has been married to Earl for thirty six years and raised four children. She currently enjoys writing, traveling, reading, almost all sports, and spending time with her two grandsons.

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