Preparation
Tip 1: fill out a medication schedule
Bring a list of all the medications you take. Get them from your pharmacist or fill out a medication schedule yourself (74.45 KB) "pdf".
Tip 2: write down your complaints and symptoms
Write down your complaints and symptoms. Also list what you want to ask the doctor about your condition or treatment. Some examples:
- What is my condition?
- What is the cause?
- What tests or treatments are possible?
- Why is this examination or treatment the best choice?
- What happens if I don't get treatment?
- When will I get the result of the examination or treatment?
- Does the examination or treatment hurt?
- Will I still be able to do the same thing after the treatment, in the short and long term?
- How long will the recovery take?
Tip 3: bring a confidant
Bring a confidant to the consultation. For many patients, this is a great support. If you are afraid to ask a question, your counselor can do it for you. You can also chat after the consultation. Two people remember more than one.
Tip 4: check your health care provider's rate
Do you like to know your health care provider's rate beforehand? Then look up whether they are conventional. Conventional health care providers respect established rates.
Learn more about physicians' convention status.
Consult common rates.
During the consultation
Tip 1: go over your questions
- Go over the questions you have prepared.
- Feel free to take notes of what the health care provider says.
Tip 2: ask for more explanation
- Feel free to ask for explanations about words you don't understand well.
- Repeat in your own words what the doctor told you and ask if that is correct.
- If necessary, ask for reliable sources for more information (e.g. websites).
- Ask who you can reach if you still have questions at home.
Tip 3: take time to think
Do you have to make a difficult decision? Then ask for time to think.
Tip 4: make concrete agreements
Make concrete agreements and ask for:
- Prescriptions for medication, physical therapy, home nursing ...
- Certificates for work, school, insurance, INAMI-RIZIV ...
- A follow-up appointment.
- What tests still need to be done.
- What to look out for and when to contact your doctor.
- What you can do yourself.
Tip 5: make inquiries about billing
For more information about costs, contact the Patient invoicing department.