MED SCHOOL 101 FOR PATIENTS

A PATIENT'S GUIDE TO CREATING AN EXCEPTIONAL DOCTOR VISIT

by Kilbourn Gordon III ‧ RELEASE DATE: June 30, 2017

A debut guide focuses on stress-free health maintenance.

Connecticut-based urgent care physician Gordon’s straightforward manual highlights the importance of communication and information within the patient care experience. The compact reference book is divided into three sections that make up the entirety of a routine visit to a doctor and should prove helpful to those most fearful and unaware of modern clinical protocols. Gordon developed the work using real-life interactions with his own patients and their personal styles (both passive and active in receiving medical counsel) in order to prime readers for doctor visits and to ultimately ensure beneficial results for both sides. As a veteran medical professional, the author cautions that to maintain efficiency, accuracy, and a high standard of care delivery, the patient must play a direct role in being comprehensively prepared when receiving an evaluation or treatment since visits can be limited to as little as 15 minutes. He asserts: “Everything that happens during this session is important: how you have prepared (or not prepared) for the session, what records you have kept regarding your illness, what questions you will ask, and what education regarding your condition you expect to receive from your caregiver.” Actively partnering with a primary care physician, posing questions, and exploring health management and disease risks are paramount to fully understanding the alternatives a practitioner may dispense, Gordon explains. The book is slim and condensed enough to accompany patients on visits, and its functional structure reflects the typical physician process, from obtaining initial vital signs to conducting a physical examination and discussing testing and treatment options. Research, attitude, and rapport are all key to optimal sessions, the author notes, and to maximizing the quality of care received. He also includes closing reference materials to aid readers planning to see a doctor. Gordon’s accessible, readable guide takes the apprehension and guesswork out of medical appointments by encouraging patients to become proactive participants in their own assessments and therapies. The author believes that “the trophy is uncovering the truth in conjunction with your doctor.”

Practical, motivational, and patient-centered medical advice that replaces anxiety and uncertainty with knowledge and foresight.

Pub Date: June 30, 2017

ISBN: 978-1-4808-4632-6

Page Count: 140

Publisher: Archway Publishing

Review Posted Online: Sept. 17, 2017

Kirkus Reviews Issue: Oct. 15, 2017

Review Program: Kirkus Indie

Categories:

GENERAL NONFICTION