How Do I Get a Medical Diagnosis?

Patients can be proactive in their own medical care. There are some steps that can be taken to help assist medical professionals in determining a diagnosis. 

• Communicate clearly with your doctors and other healthcare providers 
• Provide complete information
• Bring any medical records you have
• Write down your symptoms beforehand
• List past medical history such as illnesses and surgeries
• Note any relevant family medical history such as heart disease or cancer
• Note all medications 
• Don’t be afraid to talk about symptoms you may find embarrassing

Ask questions

• Come prepared with a list of questions
• If you don’t understand something, ask for clarification
• Review all instructions to make sure you are clear on the next steps or medications to take

Take notes

• Review the notes to see if you have any questions later
• Notes also help to share information with loved ones who may also have questions or observations

Bring someone with you

• If you are comfortable, bring a family member or friend for support 
• Family members or friends may also have observations or questions that can help aid in diagnosis or understanding 
• If you don’t feel comfortable with the doctor, it’s ok to seek another opinion
• You need to have a medical professional you feel comfortable with 
• If a doctor ignores your questions or information, if they do not explain tests or medications, they may not be the right doctor to help figure out your diagnosis
• If a doctor dismisses your concerns as “all in your head,” that may be a sign you need to change doctors 
• If your condition worsens despite treatment, it may be time to see another doctor
• If you are at all uncomfortable, it may be a sign you need to find another doctor

Make sure you follow-up

• It’s common to have questions after an appointment has ended
• Make another appointment or call or email the doctor or other member of the staff to ask questions
• Reach out to check on any test results
• Tell your healthcare provider if any symptoms worsen
• If any test results are surprising, ask questions
• Sometimes lab tests are contaminated or imaging tests are not calibrated or patient results are mixed up
• If your results do not make any sense based on your symptoms and what you have discussed with your doctor, double-check that everything was processed properly or to see if you may need to be re-tested 
• Understand that sometimes doctors won’t have answers quickly or at all
• It is better for a doctor to say they don’t know than to give an inaccurate diagnosis just for the sake of placating a patient
• Ask for a referral to a specialist