Being a one-time patient is common for most people visiting clinics because they are not there to address underlying conditions that require periodic consultations. Another reason for this is the nature of the disease because all it takes is a few days or weeks of medication.
However, in some cases, a person might need to visit an ear specialist in Singapore every week to evaluate their latest findings or every month to talk about recent improvements in their health.
With this, keeping a relationship is necessary. It is not only about visiting the clinic at the most convenient time for you but being able to communicate with the ear specialistregarding relevant matters. There is also a need to be respectful toward each other because a healthy doctor-patient relationship revolves around that.
In this article, whether you are a one-time patient or someone who needs periodic consultations with an ENT doctor in Singapore, let us explore some tips on keeping in touch with them. You trust their services, so it is necessary to maintain proper conduct when dealing with these professionals.
#1: PLAN YOUR SCHEDULE WITH THE DOCTOR
Being a one-time patient is common for most patients because they only need the ENT doctorto address their current condition through medication. However, most people fail to recognise the importance of returning even if you are already healing. Why? The specialist needs to know how the medicines worked, your experience during home treatment, and even the changes you may have experienced.
Regardless if you need periodic check-ups or a one-time appointment, plan your schedule with the doctor. For people who need a routine, pick a convenient time to visit the ENT specialist. Is it every weekend of the month when you have no work to do? Or during Wednesdays when your boss allowed you to use the extra time for medical reasons? Anything that works for you is the best option. Second, if you only intend to visit one time, you might want to return to let the doctor know and examine whether you need more than a few days worth of medication.
#2: GET THE NUMBER OF THE DOCTOR
Doctors and their medical staff usually use cellular phones for their transactions. It can be informing their patients of the latest changes and events in the clinic, promotions for medicines and other items, and even notifying them of an upcoming appointment. With this, it is necessary to get the mobile number of your ENT doctor for situations where you might need to contact them. Also, it lets you book an appointment without going out of the comfort of your home.
However, one rule is to respect personal boundaries. First, never contact them after office hours, like how you maintain relationships at work because that is disrespectful. Second, an ENT surgeon might be on-call for sudden emergencies, but you still need to keep this in mind. Do this by asking for their work number or the one they use for medical-related concerns, and you would not want to call their personal mobile phone.
#3: TAKE ADVANTAGE OF SOCIAL MEDIA
The age of mobile phones and internet devices paved the way for the popularity of social media. Before, people only used them to reconnect with each other, but you will already encounter businesses and other entities that use these for their marketing campaigns. In the case of an ear, nose and throat specialist, they can utilise these platforms to update customers about the latest events in the clinic, announcements like schedule changes and closures, and even informative content to help their followers.
Ask the clinic for the official social media pages and websites they have. Accessing them is easy and all you do is click on the link or scan a QR code to enter the site. Also, please be respectful when having discussions or commenting on some of their posts because that is not a place for hostile and unruly behaviour against the ENT doctoror anyone else for that matter.
#4: UPDATE THEM ABOUT EVERYTHING
Well, it does not mean telling them about your latest relationship or how you were able to survive after doing a round of bar-hopping with your friends. All joking aside, give updates to the ENT specialist in the form of information about how you feel, medication you are currently taking, daily activities that might be relevant to your condition, and anything else that relates to your health.
Do this by visiting the clinic, or if you wish to stay in the comfort of your home, use social media or any of their preferred communication channels. On top of that, learn to respect the personal boundaries of your ENT doctorbecause their job has limitations: You are only there to receive the appropriate medical attention and nothing else.
#5: ASK THEM QUESTIONS
The usual doctor-patient relationship revolves around the latter seeking help by laying down their concerns, telling how they feel, and the solution they need. However, it is much more than that. Patients should ask questions to learn more about what the ENT specialistdoes to help their patients, their experience with a particular illness and condition, and even their expertise as medical professionals. The usual challenge here is being shy or not wanting to ask questions because of the fear of looking clueless.
You might be thinking, the doctor’s job is to propose solutions and tell me about everything, and why is there a need to ask questions? The reason behind that is for the patient to learn. For instance, if they will undergo a surgical procedure, knowing about the duration and other details is a must. Aside from that, asking the ENT surgeon about various things is one way to build communication to be able to meet each other’s needs. In short, the doctor would not be able to understand the patient if they are passive.
Are you looking for an ENT doctor in Singapore? Visit ENT Surgeons if you have anything in mind or pain and discomfort in your ears, nose, and throat. Give them a call or visit their website to explore their services.
