Are You Serious About Your Healthcare?

So you have a medical concern that you want to have checked out. You go to your doctor, you voice your concerns and complaints about how you are feeling, and request "something" be done.

Your doctor takes the time to set up tests and more appointments. You thank him and leave, having every intention to go to your upcoming appointments.  After all, you are anxious to find out what is going on that makes you feel bad.

Your appointment rolls around, but.....something has come up. Maybe it's something to do with work, maybe you didn't find a babysitter for your kids, or possibly, you just decide you don't want to go. Sometimes, you can feel really bad for a while and you are dying to find out why. At the time, you'd go to any test or appointment made. But if things suddenly let up at all and you get to feeling a little better, suddenly you think you "are" better and cancel your appointment with the specialist - your tests, or your follow-ups with your primary physician. Whatever was scheduled for you, you suddenly don't think you need anymore, or you don't "want" anymore, and you cancel.

Bad idea!  Here's why.......

1. Medical issues are funny - Not funny, "ha-ha," but funny, "Strange." They can flare-up for a while, subside, then flare-up again. You can have strange symptoms that are persistent for a while, then as mysteriously as they came-on, they subside. And they can return, and when they do....they may be worse than when they originally started.
2. Wait-time to be seen is prolonged - If you postpone your appointment, you may have to wait longer to be seen or have your test re-scheduled. If you suddenly wanted to re-schedule, you may not be able to get in for a while due to booking issues. This can cause problems with your health, as well as put pressure on your doctor's office to fit you in where there isn't room.
3. Doctor doesn't take you seriously - If you cancel or re-schedule appointments often or even every now and then, your doctor and doctor's office will begin to not take you seriously. They will think that your problem obviously isn't too serious, if you cancel appointments; after all, if it were, you would keep your appointments and be there - with bells on!

When you see your doctor, if you are scheduled for a follow-up or a test, you need to do your absolute best to keep the appointment. If you need to go home and look at your schedule first, before you set up the next appointment, let them know, but be sure to give them a call as soon as possible.

If there is by chance a conflict in scheduling, with your next appointment, whether it be for a test, or to see your doctor again, let them know right away and set up another time that you are sure you can keep.

If you have had an unforeseen issue pop-up that you just cannot avoid - your child gets sick, your car breaks down, something that you really cannot help and need another appointment time, call as soon as you can and re-schedule it for as soon as you can.

The more diligent you are about keeping appointments, it lets your doctor and his staff know that you are serious about your health. You are telling your doctor and staff that you really want to get better and you care - not only about your health, but about his time. You care that he has blocked off a time slot for you and want to make sure you get in, to fill that slot.

Some doctor's offices, today, will give you one freebie to miss an appointment, and then they will charge you about $25.00 (or more) for missing and not cancelling in a specific amount of time.

The more serious you are about your problem and your health, the more apt you are to keep appointments. You want to build a good relationship with your doctor, and by keeping appointments and following his recommendations, you are saying you are serious and you care - about you....and about him!