Do you ever get home from a health checkup and think, “I forgot to ask about ______”? Surely, I am not the only one that has happened to. Nowadays, if I forget to ask a question, my doctor has a website or portal where I can log in and ask questions or communicate things without having to make a phone call. The biggest problem I have with that is that it can sometimes take two or three business days for me to get a reply. That’s when I kick myself for not being better prepared with my questions during the office visit.
To keep this kind of thing from happening to you, the COPD Foundation has a smartphone app that has many functions. One of these functions is helping you prepare for your next appointment with your doctor. If you are not familiar with the app, it is called the Pocket Consultant Guide app, or PCG app. It’s free and available from both the App Store and Google Play.
Some of the features in the app include things like exercise videos and an electronic version of the My COPD Action Plan we talk so much about. But the one I want to talk to you about today is the section called “Goal Setting/For My Next Visit.” In this section, you can scroll through a list of activities and click on the ones that best describe how you can do the task.
Once you have selected those goals and activities, you will see a page that lists several questions that you can select and ask your doctor at your next visit. But if there is a question you want to ask that isn’t on the list, you can add it and save it so you won’t forget it. And if you have noticed a change in symptoms since your last visit, you can select those symptoms at the bottom of the page and discuss them with your health care provider later. This is a great way to keep up with these things so you don’t forget!
The PCG app has many great features. Here is a gameboard to help you figure out how to use them all. It helps guide you through each section of the app so you can see what tools might help you. We would love for you to download the app, try it out, and tell us what you think.
Do you feel like you are usually prepared to make the most out of the time you have with your doctor? Do you have any other tips or ideas to make that time really count?
Learn more about the PCG app.