Hours after leaving a message at your doctor’s office, your doctor calls back. The conversation is over before you know it, and you didn’t mention something important, ask one of your questions, or catch all the doctor’s advice.
Callbacks put you at a disadvantage. Unless waiting by the phone all day, you’re caught off-guard and have to shift gears quickly. You may feel rushed, knowing the doctor is calling between patients or after-hours. If the callback doctor is not your regular physician, you have to summarize the background to your concern or question—not easy to do off-the-cuff.
The solution is to prepare. On an index card or piece of paper, write down…
The key issue(s).
Your concerns or questions.
Key facts that may be needed, such as a recent illness or change in medication.
Your pharmacy number (even if you don’t expect to need it), your meds and medication allergies.
You benefit when you can present your problem succinctly in the opening sentence or two. For example, “I’m calling because……(I have a rash after starting a new medication)…(I fell off my bike this morning and was fine until an hour ago, when I started feeling dizzy and nauseated).“
Keep your notes with you at all times. Periodically review them. Let housemates know you’re expecting the call, and try to get in a quiet space when the call comes in.
Healthy Survivors know it takes preparation, concentration, and practice to make callbacks as effective as possible.
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