Communication Guide
Advocating for your child and working closely with your medical home team will help your child get the best care possible. This page will provide some suggestions for talking with your doctor, asking questions, making the most of visits with the medical home, and being part of the medical home team.
Communication Guide: Sharing Information About Your Child
Learning to communicate with your child's health care providers will help you become an active partner in all choices and be helpful in your child's health care. This involves much more than listening to what the doctor has to say. It also involves learning as much as you can about your child's health issue and asking the doctor to explain anything you don’t understand. Your child’s doctor may be an expert in his/her field, but remember that you are the expert on your child. You are your child’s voice, or advocate, and you can help the doctor know your child and make the best care plan for him or her.
Many parents feel uncomfortable talking with doctors, afraid of asking stupid questions, or of seeming rude by questioning something the doctor wants to do. Most parents find that they get better at speaking up with time. Here are some ideas of positive ways to voice your concerns.
1) Your child's doctor writes a prescription for chewable antibiotics:
2) You have received a third letter from your health insurance denying payment again for what should be covered:
3) Your child has just been scheduled to have blood drawn for the second time in one week:
4) The doctor has quickly written a prescription for a drug you know is very costly:
Making the Most of Each Doctor's Visit
Plan Ahead
Ask Questions
Be Honest
Test Results
Know the Next Step
Keep Records
Become Part of the Team
Being an active part of your child's health care team is the best way to help your child. Keeping good records and keeping the communications lines open will help the health care team help your child.
Resources
Information & Support
For Parents and Patients
Center for Parent Information and Resources (DOE)
Parent Centers in every state provide training to parents of children with disabilities and provide information about special
education, transition to adulthood, health care, support groups, local conferences, and other federal, state, and local services.
See the "Find Your Parent Center Link" to find the parent center in your state.
Utah Parent Center
A nonprofit organization that provides training, information, referral, and assistance to parents of children and youth with
all disabilities including physical, mental, hearing, vision, learning, behavioral, and emotional. Staff consists primarily
of parents of children and youth with disabilities.
National Center for Family - Professional Partnerships (F2F HICs)
Family-to-Family Health Information Centers are nonprofit, family-staffed organizations that assist families of children and
youth with special health care needs (CYSHCN). Locate state-based F2F HICs, providing support, information, resources, and
training.
Utah Family Voices
Local chapter of a national, grassroots clearinghouse for information and education concerning the health care of children
with special health needs. Utah Family Voices helps to advocate for and assist families in navigating and accessing health
care and family support services that are family-centered and culturally appropriate for all children and youth with special
needs.
Authors & Reviewers
Authors: | Gina Pola-Money |
Chuck Norlin, MD | |
Robin Pratt | |
Reviewers: | Tina Persels |
Alfred N. Romeo, RN, PhD |