What do I need to know about the office of a referred Alzheimer’s doctor?

There’s a wide variation in office staff and their responsiveness to patients’ needs. You are probably feeling pretty fragile right now, and the last thing you need in your life is a haughty, hostile receptionist or nurse in your doctor’s office. You know the one. She acts like it will take an act of divine intervention before she agrees to move two feet to make you a one-page copy for your home files.

Make sure you ask the person referring the specialist how well the office staff treated him and how efficiently it was run. You will be depending on this office staff to make sure office appointments are timely, your medical insurance carrier has been properly billed, and to get your loved one’s medical records into all the right hands.

Also, ask the person giving the referral to share any stories related to the doctor’s accessibility after hours or on short notice, so that you can be realistic about how accessible this doctor will be. Some doctors are generous with their after-hours time, offering you their cell phone number or personal e-mail address so that you can reach them anytime. Others are not as quick to offer after-hours service.

Find out more about this book: The 10 Best Questions for Living with Alzheimer's: The Script You Need to G...

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