Centre For Seniors - medical column

	Prof. Feng Pao Hsii is currently an Adjunct Professor of Medicine, Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine, National University of Singapore. He is also an Emeritus Consultant in the Department of Rheumatology, Immunology, Allergy at Tan Tock Seng Hospital and Visiting Consultant in National University Hospital, Singapore General Hospital and Raffles Hospital. Educated in Hong Kong, Singapore, United Kingdom, United States and Israel, Prof. Feng was the founder head of the Department of Rheumatology at Tan Tock Seng Hospital. Prof. Feng has recently completed a series of health talks entitled “Your Health is Gold” for seniors. The talks were held from March to July 2008 at Centre for Seniors and covered a broad spectrum of health-related topics that were close to the heart of many seniors including:
	*	Knowledge is the Best Medicine
	*	You and Your Heart
	*	You and Your Brain
	*	You and Your Hormones
	*	You and Your Joints
	*	You and Your Lungs
	*	You and Your Gut
	*	You and Your Blood
	*	You and Your Kidneys
	*	Senior Health – Living Longer, Living Healthy

What Is A Good Patient

Professor Feng Pao Hsii

1	Be truthful and candid when talking to your doctor.
2	Be prepared when you see a doctor - write down a short history of your illness.
3	Bring all the medications you are presently taking including all supplements.
4	Inform your doctor of your previous health and allergies.
5	Inform your doctor of your family history e.g hypertension, diabetes, cancer.
6	Keep your appointment - if you are unable for any reason, phone the clinic.
7	Do not doctor hop - medicines take time to work.
8	If your condition becomes worse, always call up your doctor first to discuss - if your doctor is not available, go to the A & E in the nearest hospital.
9	Your are entitled to good service, if you find the doctor's service unsatisfactory, change your doctor.
10	Always seek a second opinion especially if you are not certain - no doctor should be offended by this.

This article was contributed by Professor Feng Pao Hsii.

Disclaimer :
The article is for information purposes only and cannot be construed as an advice or recommendation. Any information provided herein is made on a general basis and does not take into account the specific health status of any specific person.

The views expressed by the author represent the opinions of the author and not those of the staff and management of the Centre For Seniors.