Tailoring the consultation to your needs
We appreciate you might not be feeling your best when you arrive seeking help from your GP.
You may be wondering what to expect from your consultation at Brightside Medical Centre.
Or, you may be wondering how to get the most value from your experience.
This page will provide you with some ideas about what to expect and how best to tailor the experience to your needs
To assist you get the most out of your visit, please consider the following points.
Don’t be afraid to write them and bring it in – we love lists!
- What are the problems/issues that prompted you to present today?
- What are you worried about? As you are talking, we are formulating our thoughts on what the likely problems/issues. However, you may be worried about something that the doctor may have ruled out. In this instance it helps if we know what you are thinking so we can reassure or address your specific issue. Worried about the information you found from your google search? Let us know so we can help.
- What would you like to find out from the doctor? We want you to come out of the consultation feeling empowered and knowing what to do next.
- Is there something you are expecting the doctor to give you today? Script/form/referral. We’ll make sure we either get this organised for you or direct you to the appropriate plan for your needs.
- Do you feel embarrassed? Don’t be! Our doctors and nurses will deal with your private matter with utmost respect and professionalism. It is recommended that you talk about the issues that matter to you most FIRST, rather than wait for the end of the consultation.
- What are your life priorities? We think it’s important to know your hobbies, work habits, lifestyle habits, particularly if this helps us directly solve the source of your problems/issues.
- Are you interested in preventing future health problems? This is where we can add value to your care!
have to be
We know it can be difficult to keep up with medical terminology. Consider doing the following to help make it easier
- Bring your list of medications, take a photo, bring in the ice cream tub
- Bring a list of your allergies, what type of reaction did you get? Where and when did you get it?
- Let us know about any illnesses or medical conditions that you have been advised about from a health professional, even if it is seemingly irrelevant
- Tell us why you’ve been to Hospital. Sometimes this may trigger a reminder of current medical problems you had/have.
- Do you see a specialist? Sometimes this may trigger a reminder of current medical problems you had/have.
A thorough approach
The doctor will run through some or all of these systematic steps to help you. We encourage you to communicate with your doctor so you understand what they are doing and why.
History
We take in your story. Simple but important.
Examination
We may ask you to do few movements. We may conduct a physical examination with you on the examination bed. These observations help us work out what is going on.
Investigations
If appropriate, we may ask you to do extra tests. Most common examples include blood tests or taking images at a Radiology Centre. If this is the case, we will organise appropriate follow-up of the result.
Management Plan
This is a collaborative process with you! Depending on the specific nature of the problem or issue, we may ask you to return for a review to assess your health progress.
We welcome your feedback. We are passionate about improving the health care experience for you. To help us remain relevant to you, please CONTACT US or talk to our friendly team today.