Click to View Printer Friendly Version

Clear communication between you and your healthcare professionals is key to quality health care. Health professionals spend years learning the science of medicine, but providing medical information to you in everyday language is part of the "art" of medicine. It is important for you to understand what is going on in your body so that you and your healthcare provider can manage your condition together for your best overall health. You have the right to expect your healthcare providers to explain things to you so that you can understand them and to provide opportunities for you to express your opinions so that you can work together.

Of course, communication is always a two-way street. You need to listen carefully and let your healthcare providers know when you don't understand. Do not hesitate to ask questions! You can ask your healthcare providers to explain things as many times as you need until you understand.

Understanding explanations about taking medications and the need for any tests, treatments, or surgery is especially important. You should be certain to ask what the alternatives are and if there are any risks you should know about. It is a good idea to repeat back to your provider the explanation in your own words. This way, both you and your healthcare provider can make sure that you understood what was said. Asking for written instructions that you can refer to later or bringing along a trusted friend or family member can also be helpful.

From time to time, healthcare providers may have to ask questions that seem very personal or that may be embarrassing to you. For example, you may be asked about bathroom habits, alcohol use, mental health, or sexual activity. Try and answer these questions as honestly as you can. The only reason they are being asked is to understand your health and to make recommendations regarding your care. Remember that all information you share with your healthcare providers is confidential.

The art of medical communication can become even more difficult when there are cultural, ethnic, or language differences between you and your healthcare providers. Your healthcare provider may ask you about traditions, attitudes, or beliefs that could affect your healthcare and how it is delivered. People with different cultural or religious beliefs may have different attitudes about health care, medications, surgery, or experimental or alternative treatments, etc. Don't assume your healthcare provider understands your culture, so be sure to explain how your culture affects how you view your health and how you make decisions. Your healthcare providers need to know if you take any herbal remedies or drugs, or if your culture or religious practices prohibit certain medical treatments. Also be sure to mention if you have particular dietary restrictions. Herbs, vitamins, and non-prescription medicines can sometimes interfere with certain diagnostic tests or cause an adverse reaction when taken with other prescribed drugs. If your healthcare provider knows this ahead of time, these situations can be avoided (see also Complementary and Alternative Medicine).

If you are from another country, your healthcare provider may ask you where you are from and how long you have lived in the United States. This information can help your healthcare provider get a better idea of your healthcare needs and attitudes. If you are not comfortable discussing your health assessment and treatment in English, let your healthcare provider know. He or she may be able to arrange for a translator so that you can communicate in your native language.

Your healthcare providers may also want to discuss your attitudes about making healthcare decisions, disclosure of information, and consent for tests or treatment (see Ethical and Legal Issues). Healthcare in the United States is based on the idea of individual rights and autonomy. In other words, you make decisions about your health care and you control how and to whom this information is communicated. Be sure to let your healthcare providers know if you want others involved in the decision-making process or if you want these decisions made entirely by others. This is especially important when making decisions about end-of-life and advanced directives (ie, your wishes regarding heroic measures to prolong life).

We hope that this Web site will provide tools for you to better communicate with your healthcare providers. You can print out any of the content and bring it to your healthcare provider to help you ask questions and learn more about your health.