- Risks: What are the risks or problems associated with treatment? Be sure you understand the side effects and potential for complications. ...
- Benefits: What are the potential benefits? ...
- Evidence: How much evidence (research or experience) exists?
How do you discuss treatment options?
Ask what your options are. Discuss risks and benefits of treatment options. Once you know your options, ask about the pros and cons of each one. Find out what side effects might occur, how long the treatment would continue, and how likely it is that the treatment will work for you.
Can a patient choose their treatment?
Your doctors will give you information and advice about treatment. You have the right to choose . You can say “yes” to treatments you want and “no” to treatments you don’t want, even if the treatment might keep you alive longer.
How is a doctor who is a generalist different a specialist?
Patients of specialist physicians tend to be younger and have fewer medical problems . In addition, generalists often care for complex patients with multiple chronic conditions, whose care requires explicit trade-offs and potential for conflict involving the use of multiple medications and treatments.
What are some examples of imaging tools that doctors use?
Interventional radiologists are doctors that use imaging such as CT, ultrasound, MRI, and fluoroscopy to help guide procedures. The imaging is helpful to the doctor when inserting catheters, wires, and other small instruments and tools into your body. This typically allows for smaller incisions (cuts).
Why do we need to explain the procedure to the patient?
Preparation. Certain procedures may require the patient to stop eating, drinking , or taking specific medication, so they must be informed of this. If there are many details for the patient to remember then writing it down for them or advising them to take notes may make things easier.
Do doctors talk about patients?
Yes . Under federal privacy rules, doctors can give the press (and the public at large) only the most general information about a patient, called “directory information.” They can confirm that a specific patient has been admitted to the hospital, and they can give a short assessment of his overall condition.
Who will decide on the proper medical treatment if you can not?
Every competent adult has the right to refuse unwanted medical treatment. This is part of the right of every individual to choose what will be done to their own body, and it applies even when refusing treatment means that the person may die.
Can you take someone to the hospital against their will?
Adults usually have the right to decide whether to go to the hospital or stay at the hospital. But if they are a danger to themselves or to other people because of their mental state, they can be hospitalized against their will . Forced hospitalization is used only when no other options are available.
How can doctors help patients?
Most physicians go into the medical profession to help their patients lead a healthy and fulfilling life. ... These include activities such as documenting each patient interaction , coordinating care with other providers and re-creating and reviewing a patient’s entire medical history before each visit.
Can any doctor be a primary care physician?
There are several different types of doctor that will be identified as a primary care physician – typically Family Practice, Internal Medicine or General Practice . There are also doctors who focus on children, called Pediatricians, who will serve as the primary care physician for your child.
What can a doctor specialize in?
- Allergists. An allergist or immunologist focuses on preventing and treating allergic diseases and conditions. ...
- Dermatologists. ...
- Infectious disease doctors. ...
- Ophthalmologists. ...
- Obstetrician/gynecologists. ...
- Cardiologists. ...
- Endocrinologists. ...
- Gastroenterologists.
Is a family doctor a specialist?
Unlike other specialties that are limited to a particular organ or disease, family physicians are the only specialists qualified to treat most ailments and provide comprehensive health care for people of all ages — from newborns to seniors.
What are the 4 types of medical imaging?
- MRI. An MRI, or magnetic resonance imaging, is a painless way that medical professionals can look inside the body to see your organs and other body tissues. ...
- CT Scan. ...
- PET/CT. ...
- Ultrasound. ...
- X-Ray. ...
- Arthrogram. ...
- Myelogram. ...
- Women’s Imaging.
What are the 5 types of medical imaging exams?
Learn more about our five most common modalities for our various types of imaging tests: X-ray, CT, MRI, ultrasound, and PET .
How is nuclear medicine useful in treating illnesses?
Nuclear medicine procedures are used in diagnosing and treating certain illnesses. These procedures use radioactive materials called radiopharmaceuticals . Examples of diseases treated with nuclear medicine procedures are hyperthyroidism, thyroid cancer, lymphomas, and bone pain from some types of cancer.
