Your health care provider in Texas upholds the responsibility of providing you with an optimal standard of care. Negligence, fatigue and miscommunication can all influence your safety and well-being.
Knowing how to hold your doctor accountable for the care you receive can help you protect yourself. Developing a good relationship with your physician and communicating regularly is a great place to start.
Verify medical records
Your medical records play a critical role in the treatments you receive. If you have a family history of serious illnesses or you suffer from specific disabilities, these factors can directly impact the effectiveness of various treatments. Similarly, you should disclose if you take certain drugs or supplements or currently exhibit concerning symptoms. Your medical records provide a place for you to clarify such information and provide your doctor with a well-rounded description of your health history.
Doctors should read your charts in depth to have an adequate understanding of your needs. However, some medical providers briefly skim such information and make quick diagnoses based on the minimal information they have. Require your doctor to thoroughly read your records and verify his or her understanding. This can encourage accountability and reduce the chances of your doctor overlooking critical details.
Ask for follow-up
Developing good communication with your doctor takes time and persistence. According to Web MD, come prepared to appointments with a list of questions to encourage discussion. You can also make the wisest use of your time this way. Following any tests or treatments, ask for a follow-up. Requesting that your doctor contact you with updates is another effective way to encourage accountability.
If you are the victim of medical malpractice, you should hold your doctor accountable. An attorney can help you organize facts about your situation to identify ways that your doctor failed to provide a reasonable standard of care.
