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Are you going WITH a family member to the doctor?  Your attending an office visit with the doctor can be helpful in many ways.

• Giving details about the patient’s concerns/issues, if needed.
• Translating, if there is a language barrier.
• Helping the patient understand the diagnosis and treatment plan
• Assisting the patient in making treatment decisions to fit lifestyle/home needs
• Remembering WHAT was said.  This is especially true if there is a difficult diagnosis, like cancer, when frequently the patient cannot remember anything said after the diagnosis.

If you as the patient want to bring someone to a doctor’s visit consider parents, children, siblings, spouse/partner, caregivers, neighbors, or friends.

Other hints for the visitor (not the patient):

• Please do not bring up your own medical complaints.  Your focus of the visit should be on the patient, too.
• Step out of the room so that the patient can address any personal or confidential issues with the physician.
• If you are the caregiver and are overwhelmed, let the physician know.  More assistance or respite care can be arranged.

Hope this helps.