Updated  04/04/2009

                                      TALKING WITH YOUR DOCTOR

A Project of 

 The John Locke Society of Greater Kansas City

I. History: 

      The basis of this project originated with the American Board of Family Practice, Lexington, Kentucky as, “Partners in Health”.  The concept has been adapted and revised by the John Locke Society of Greater Kansas City, for use in local venues and renamed, “Talking With Your Doctor”.   

      The project is designed to teach children and older adults the importance and ease of communicating with their healthcare providers, as well as the importance of taking a more active role in good health care maintenance, illness prevention, and treatment.  

       Traditionally, most people develop passive postures with those people perceived to hold authoritative positions.  To teach both adults and children the Talking With Your Doctor concept, we use the acronym “TALK”.   We hope to convey the importance of:

            Talking to the doctor and providing necessary information.

            Asking questions.

            Listening and learning.

            Knowing how to take an active part in the care of one’s health. 

      These concepts are not new.  It is well known that the basic tenet of the doctor patient relationship is good communication.  The better the communication, the more effective the treatment.    For many reasons, this is not always easily attained.  One of aims of this project is to help both doctors and patients learn to improve their communication skills.

       Objectives of the senior program are to teach adults: 

�        What is important to tell the doctor.

�        How to formulate pertinent questions.

�        How to communicate openly and honestly.

�        Importance of listening and recording what the doctor says in order to follow instructions correctly.

�        Overall importance of understanding and accepting the patient’s and the doctor’s rights and responsibilities in medical care. 

The purpose of the program is not to render medical advice, but to make it easier for the patient to get that advice from his physician. 

II.                   Participants:

The programs will be offered to Senior Groups in the Greater Kansas City area.  The sessions will be led by a physician from the John Locke Society who will be assisted by one or more physicians, nurses, medical students or other health care providers.             

III.                 Program Format:   

              Each program will consist of one 90 minute session   Three video clips will be shown  After introducing himself, his colleagues and the program, the leader will ask for the first video clip to be shown.  The purpose of the clips is to provide a basis for discussion and to stimulate questions.  

                   A.    Introduction.  10 minutes                                                                                                         

B.     Video clip #1 and discussion.  15 minutes

   This 5 minute clip shows the physician and an elderly patient  who is upset about a change in living status. 

Topics for discussion:

      -- Patient’s lack of responsibility for her own health.

      -- Patient’s difficulty in communicating with the doctor.

      -- Physician’s role as an authority.

      -- Physician’s insensitivity to the non-medical information  relating to patient’s complaint.  (Doctor is not listening)

Suggested discussion questions:

      -- What do you think about this interaction?

      -- Has anything like this ever happened to  you?

      -- What should the patient do in this situation?

                 -- What should the doctor do in this situation?

                 -- What is the patient’s major problem and is it medical?

                 -- Has the patient compensated for her loss?

                 -- Are social factors sometimes more significant than medical?

                 C. Video clip #2 and discussion.  15 minutes.

             An elderly patient visits the physician complaining of extreme pain in his right arm.

                   -- How would you characterize the patient’s attitude?

                   -- How well is the patient communicating?

                  -- Is the doctor asking good questions?

                   -- How do Rights and Responsibilities come into play here?

                   -- What do you think the doctor’s responsibility is in this case?

C.     Coffee Break.  10 minutes.

D.      Video clip #3.  15 minutes.

              An elderly patient accompanied by her adult daughter consults with a physician.    

                    -- Who has the right to decide?

                    -- How well did the patient exercise her “Rights and Responsibilities?

                    -- How well did the doctor provide information about diagnosis and treatment options?

                    -- What role did the daughter take and how well did she communicate with the physician?

E.     Summary and Conclusion.  20 minutes.

-- What lessons were learned?

-- How could communications have been improved?

                       -- Final comments.

  Back to John Locke Home Page      Link to Metromedkc Home Page       Link to Medical Society of  Johnson and Wyandotte Counties  

                   (C) Copyright, 2005 by The John Locke Society of Greater Kansas City.  All Rights Reserved.

Updated  04/04/2009