Tips for Navigating the Healthcare System and Getting the Best Care
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It’s never easy to be a patient, whether you’re trying to get to the root of mysterious symptoms, figure out how to live with a chronic condition, or sort out why the treatment recommended by your doctor isn’t working the way you expected it to.
The right plan of attack can go a long way toward a better medical experience and better results, according to several healthcare providers included on the list of Castle Connolly 2024 Top Doctors. A good strategy starts with doing your homework and asking lots of questions, these physicians say.
“For patients who are navigating the complex healthcare system and their healthcare plan, their research matters,” says Jamal Ross, MD, an internal medicine specialist at Oak St. Health in Chicago. “Every question is important and matters. It matters to you. It matters to your doctor.”
In interviews conducted by Castle Connolly, Dr. Ross and other leading physicians offer advice on how to gather the information that you as a patient need in order to ask good questions, get clear answers, and leave appointments feeling confident about your care plan. Here are four of their best tips.
1. Do Your Homework Online — but Be Sure to Do It the Right Way
It’s absolutely essential to do your homework before you see the doctor, and it’s actually fine to research online as long as you know how to go about it.
“The most important thing is for you to enter the medical situation with knowledge,” says Larry Norton, MD, an oncologist and the medical director of the Evelyn H. Lauder Breast Center at Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center in New York City. “Read widely, and use the internet to find questions but not to get answers.”
You also shouldn’t assume the first search result (the one at the top of the screen) will offer the best information, says Felice Schnoll-Sussman, MD, a gastroenterologist at NewYork-Presbyterian/Weill Cornell Medical Center in New York City. “The top of a search can be something that someone paid for,” she says. “That could be a glossy ad and something that looks the most enticing.”
It should go without saying that you shouldn’t believe everything you read online. “What I would do is try to go to vetted resources,” Dr. Schnoll-Sussman advises. This may mean you need to scroll down past search results until you find a reputable, recognizable name, whether it’s a trusted local hospital or healthcare system or a well-known research university or consumer health website.
2. It’s Okay to Want a Doctor Who Shares Your Background
All the homework in the world won’t help you much if you don’t feel comfortable enough with your doctor to have an open and honest dialogue. And that may mean looking for somebody who shares your background, whether they’re of the same race, ethnicity, gender, or sexual orientation as you.
“Patients feel better when they see a physician who comes from a similar background and looks like them,” says Rene Roberts, MD, who is Black and works in family medicine at Oak Street Health in Chicago. That’s because there’s an ease that comes from knowing a doctor shares your cultural background and lived experiences.
Jesse Ehrenfeld, MD, the first openly gay president of the American Medical Association, who practices in Milwaukee, echoes this sentiment.
“I can’t tell you the number of times that I’ve walked into a patient’s room and I’ve seen a same-sex couple,” says Dr. Ehrenfeld, an anesthesiologist. “When I tell them that I’m a gay physician you just see their anxiety melt away.”
3. Don’t Be Afraid to Ask a Lot of Questions
Even when you do your homework and have a doctor you trust, it’s not easy to get all your questions answered during one appointment with your physician — especially when your concerns are complicated and your session isn’t that long.
“It’s important that you write down every question of concern and make sure they’re addressed before you leave the office,” Ross says. “And quite honestly, doctors want to know what your questions are.”
Don’t be shy with follow-up questions, either, especially when you don’t understand what you’re hearing, says Anwar Jebran, MD, an internal medicine specialist at Oak Street Health in Chicago.
“I always advise my patients to ask all the questions you need,” Dr. Jebran says. “Learn more about your disease, learn more about the medications you take every day, and stay in good communication with us.”
It’s also perfectly fine to ask more questions even after a medical appointment, Jebran adds. Calling the doctor, using an online portal to post questions, or scheduling a follow-up visit via telehealth or in person are all good ways to clear up any confusion.
4. Don’t Go It Alone
Being a patient is stressful, and it can be hard to process everything in the moment. That’s why you may want to bring a trusted friend or family member with you to appointments to take notes and help you remember everything that comes up.
“I encourage patients to bring a notebook or even bring someone with you to your appointments to help write down information,” Dr. Roberts says.
This person can support you and advocate for what you need, says Eileen O’Reilly, MD, a gastrointestinal oncologist at Memorial Sloan Kettering in New York City.
“I think having an extra pair of ears for the interactions and discussions is extremely helpful to remind [you] and help answer questions after,” Dr. O’Reilly says.
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