Scheduled Follow-Up, Unless...

Imagine your physicians just finished evaluating your problem. Maybe they ordered some tests. Then they prescribed some therapy. Before you leave, their office scheduled you for a follow-up visit in a few weeks. When should you not keep that appointment?

If you aren't getting better, your problem is getting worse, or you have developed a new problem.

I grew up in a family without physicians, so every little thing in medical school was new to me. Routines and procedures that were second-nature to classmates both challenged and fascinated me.

After I entered practice, I tended to explain every little thing to patients, remembering what I didn't know before medical school. So when I outlined my instructions to each patient, I'd say, "If I don't hear from you before your next appointment, I'll assume:

• You are taking your medicines as prescribed.
• You are not having any problems with the medicine.
• Your problem is improving.
• You have no new problems.

Healthy Survivors know that unless their physicians specify otherwise, follow-up appointments are scheduled with the understanding that everything is going as expected and the problem is improving. When in doubt between office visits, they call!