Patients of any background may get flustered during the limited time a doctor visit allows. This problem is worse when language is limited, or there are concepts the doctor doesn't realize he or she should explain. Adrienne Mercer, maternal and child health program coordinator for the New York-based Caribbean Women's Health Association, recommends making a written list of questions in advance, and taking it to the doctor s office. She also suggests keeping a written log of all medical appointments and the medical advice you have received during each visit. Try to check your politics at the door .
Many physicians practicing in the United States come from other cultures themselves.
You may have the unexpected bonus of finding a doctor with a background similar to your own. But suppose, for example, your HMO assigns you a physician born in a country long hostile to your own country of origin. You usually have the right to request another physician without even specifying a reason. But you also may decide that, when it comes to obtaining medical care in the United States, such political antagonisms are best forgotten. Tell your doctor about any medications or treatments you're taking .