Seeing your doctor has never been a picnic (tissue-thin gown, anyone?), but these days it can feel like a hit-and-run. As doctors get busier, appointments get shorter — you're supposed to spill your family history, get a prescription refill, and have a suspicious mole inspected in less time than it takes to reload your iPod.
And not only are docs more swamped than ever; sometimes it feels like they're speaking a different language. "Medical schools teach students how to interact with patients, but by the time doctors start practicing, their bedside manner may be a bit rusty," says Sherrie Kaplan, Ph.D., a leading researcher of doctor-patient interactions. Because a satisfied patient is more likely to be a healthy one, according to research from the University of California, Irvine, we got experts to help you beat the time crunch, leap over the communication barrier, and get the medical TLC you need.
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/33383359/ns/health-health_care/