7 Reasons The Gatekeepter May Save Your Life

                Seven Actions That May Save Your Life

Hi, I am HypoGal, and I blog from the experience of having a rare disease, Sheehan's Syndrome, and Relapsing Polychondritis. 

Included in this blog, “The Gatekeeper ”, states the seven most important actions you should take when you schedule a doctor’s appointment. Please note, the Gatekeeper is a.k.a. the person who can save your life.

All doctors, especially high in demand specialist have a Gatekeeper. The Gatekeeper schedules patients appointments and may also handle the doctor’s clerical work. The doctor’s patient volume usually determines if the doctor has one Gatekeeper in charge of their patient schedule. The Gatekeeper usually knows the doctors personality and demeanor very well. The Gatekeeper knows when the doctor goes to lunch, what hours and days they work. The Gatekeeper knows when the doctor is scheduled to attend a conference or go on vacation.

Please be sure to remember that the Gatekeeper is a person. On my Sheehan’s Syndrome journey I have found that most Gatekeepers are women. Women usually have more empathy for other women.

The Gatekeeper can usually relate well to multi-tasking that a woman and mother must accomplish each day. Most important, at least, to me, HypoGal, the Gatekeeper usually wants to help an ill person receive prompt medical attention.

Sometimes a doctor can not see you a patient for months, and some doctors do not see new patients. If this has been your experience then you need to make sure you do the following seven actions:

• 1. Avoid the Gatekeeper. Before you try to schedule an appointment with a highly sought after specialist ask your doctor if they can phone this doctor and have you seen immediately. This has been my most successful means to secure a doctor's appointment. Please note, just as this action has been successful for me in my past, even some doctors are not able, to get past the Gatekeeper.

• 2. What is the best time to schedule an appointment? When you schedule an appointment don’t phone at the beginning of the day. The start of the day is usually the busiest time. Most Gatekeepers take a late lunch between 12:30-2:00 PM. The best time to try to schedule is between 2:30-3:30 PM. This is the best timeframe because the Gatekeeper has had a chance to catch up after lunch and is not yet ready to leave their office for the day.

• 3. Be polite and courteous to the Gatekeeper. The Gatekeeper is the person who will determine when you are seen by the doctor. Make sure that you have this person’s name and be sure to use her name when you ask for her assistance. For example, Anna, I appreciate your help.

• 4. Schedule the appointment.  If the doctor doesn’t have any immediately dates available than plan the first date that is available. After you schedule your appointment, thank the Gatekeeper for their help. If your appointment date is not in a reasonable time frame then again, briefly convey why you have an immediate need for an office visit. Ask the Gatekeeper if you may phone back weekly to see if there have been any cancelations. Also, ask the GateKeeper to please immediate phone you if there are any cancelations.

• 5. Follow up. If the Gatekeeper has approved a weekly follow up call- then call. Remember her name and thank her for her time. If she has been polite and helpful to you, then send her a thank you note. Keep the thank you note brief, sincere and include your phone number and email address.

• 6. Assume the close. Ask the Gatekeeper if she can send you the patient paperwork. Convey to the Gatekeeper that you would like to complete the paperwork ahead of time so the doctor will have your current information on file.

• 7. Plan B. If you are still not able to schedule an appointment within a reasonable time frame then you need to move on to a plan B. What is Plan B? Schedule an appointment with your second choice. If you are diagnosis with a serious medical condition, it is always a good idea to have a second opinion.

I hope that my HypoGal’s Gatekeeper experiences can help you. I would also like you to keep in mind that the Gatekeeper can be your advocate. 

The Gatekeeper can tell the doctor why he should see you at an earlier date or why he should take you as a new patient. And in closing, please know that the Gatekeepers have the ability to double book the doctor.

You can read more about Sheehan's Syndrome on my HypoGal Website and HypoGal Blog

You can read about my journey with Disability Insurance on Amazon's number 1 ranked business law book  HypoGal and Disability Benefits

HypoGal Blogs How An Health Advocate May Save Your Life

HypoGal with Sheehan's Syndrome(hypopituitary) blogs about how an health advocate may safe your life.

It is so important to be your own health advocate. But, part being your own advocate is to bring an advocate with you to your doctor’s appointment. Your health advocate can be a close friend, parent, relative or spouse. It is best if your advocate is familiar with you and your symptoms. Below, I have outlined five reasons why bring an advocate to your doctors appointment can benefit your healthcare.

1. When you don’t feel well it may be difficult to convey your symptoms and questions to your doctor. Your health advocate can help you give detailed examples of your symptoms and clarify your questions to your doctor.

2. If you are feeling ill you may not comprehend all of the information the doctor is giving you. Your advocate can confirm with your doctor the information that has been given you. Your advocate can also take notes about the information the doctor has given you.

3. If you bring a health advocate with you to your appointment the doctor usually gives your appointment additional time. I know it should not be this way with doctors but I have found this all so true.

4. I have also found that doctors take my symptoms much more seriously when my husband is with me. My husband has come up with a theory about doctors. While my husband's theory may not be ethical, I have found his theory definitely holds a lot of truth. My husband’s theory goes like this: most doctors are male, married and think their wives can be a bit crazy. So, many times a doctor can automatically discount a female patient and infer their wives personality traits upon their patients. I know that most doctors do not intentional treat females this way but I really do think it happens.

5. Towards the end of your doctor’s appointment your health advocate can repeat back a summary of your appointment to your doctor. Your advocate should repeat back the reason any tests or labs are being ordered. If there are no tests or labs being ordered then you and your advocate should ask why. Also, a follow plan with doctor needs to be confirmed.

So there you have it. I think an advocate is the most important thing you should bring to your doctors appointment.

HypoGal writes a weekly blog about living with a chronic disease, Sheehan's Syndrome. You can read about her rare disease, Sheehan’s Syndrome on her web site www.HypoGal.com