Is it acceptable to start the clock?

When a member of your family is sick, there is a helpless feeling that accompanies it, more so when there is no diagnosis. Tests are run and nothing is being figured out, doubt and fear can creep into the mind of a parent. Questions and emotions run high, especially with reports that on average doctors spend 15 minutes with their patients. A parent can start to feel that it has become more of a business than health care. However, there are ways to keep your family’s health in the forefront without compromise.
With the mindset that there will be only 15 minutes for the visit, it is best that you come prepared. Whether the visit is for routine physical or new disturbing symptoms, have the frame of mind that you want to get the most out of the limited time you have. A list of questions written down that you want to address with the doctor is vital to keep the focus where it belongs. Also, have examples with dates of the events. That way, the doctor will know you are basing your concerns on concrete evidence rather than generalized feelings. Think of it as a translation from emotional way of speaking to analytically.
Let’s say you have your list of concise questions and you are being respectful of the doctor’s time. Yet, you can’t shake the feeling that your doctor is not really hearing what you are trying to convey.
Be mindful how you feel after you leave the doctor’s office—is it relief or regret that your family didn't get all of their needs met? How many times do you feel the latter? If it occurring more times than you would like, it may be time to go elsewhere. This can be a very difficult decision, especially if your family has been seeing the physician for some time. There is a trust that is inherent when you visit the doctor, since they tend to see your family at their most vulnerable. However, trust your gut instinct: it could make all the difference.