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When you order a new medicine
- The name and spelling of the medicine
- Whether or not the drug is available as a generic
- Discuss the costs of medications and what programs help cover costs
- Explain what condition the medicine is for
- Review the dose and frequency with your patient
- Be clear about how the medicine must be taken
- Before eating
- With or without food
- During the meal
- Let the patient know what to expect
- How long they will take the medicine
- When they should begin to notice improvement
- What side effects they may experience
- How it might affect driving or working
- How many refills they will get
- Let them know if they need to keep taking their other medicine or which ones to stop
- Let your patient know about potential interactions with vitamins
- Outline any needed lab tests done
- Make sure the patient knows when you will see them again
When your order medical tests
- Explain the test and what it is for
- Talk about how the test it done and how long it will take
- Be honest about whether or not it may hurt
- Let the patient know of any special instructions such as fasting
- When and how you will let them know about the results
- Outline the plan of care, including next steps
When you suggest a treatment for an illness or condition
- Talk about all of the available treatment options including success rates
- Be clear about how the treatment may help and what risks there may be
- Be honest about whether or not it may hurt
- Talk about what can be done for pain
- Be prepared for them to ask you what you would do
- Know what the treatment may cost and whether it is covered by most insurance plans
- Be honest about what may happen if they do nothing
- Offer them time to consider their choices, set a reasonable time line for their decision
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