One of the biggest responsibilities I have, and one of the most rewarding ones, is educating physicians at all steps of their training. I worry a lot about whether we are doing enough to make better physicians, and I worry about all of the forces that affect the jobs that physicians do. Helping patients understand how to get the most out of their medical encounters is something I think we also should worry about, and so I want to share with you my thoughts about how to be a better patient.

What do I mean by being a better patient? I mean by this a person who receives the best and most appropriate medical care, a person who is fully informed about medical issues, and a person who is as satisfied as possible that he or she is treated appropriately and with dignity.

A big part of being a better patient is knowing what to expect from a medical encounter. To me, it always begins with this: Patients should be treated with respect and dignity at every step during a visit. This is a fundamental aspect of the patient-physician interaction, and you should speak up gently but firmly if you feel the encounter is off track.

You also should expect a prompt and respectful answer when you ask what is going on at any time during a medical visit -- especially in the age of high technology, the doctor's office or the hospital can be a confusing place. You should also be able to get copies of your medical records promptly and graciously. And don't forget that you can also ask to have items such as reports from other doctors or information you have collected added to your record.

We've talked about some basic principles and safeguards that should be respected by all health care providers to ensure that you will be a better patient. Let's talk about some other general ways you can prepare yourself for any visit to a health care provider.

First, the more information you have about your medical history, the better. Your doctor's office can request medical records on your behalf, but it may save you time and help your doctor get to the point more quickly if you request these and bring them with you to your first visit.

Have a complete list of the medicines (including vitamins and over-the-counter medicines) that you take and how you take them. If you have had bad reactions to specific medicines, keep track of those, as well as any other allergies you have.

Finally, be honest about questions that your doctor has about cigarette smoking, alcohol use, sexual activity, and other social behaviors that you may be asked about. This information will help your doctor treat you better.

What we've just talked about are general tasks that apply to any physician encounter. However, you will usually be seeing a doctor for a specific reason -- something that is bothering you. You'll be a better patient if you can explain as clearly as possible what you are concerned about, and if you understand as clearly as possible what your health care provider intends to do about it.

Here are some tips I give people to improve their communications with physicians. First, stay focused on what is bothering you. Your doctor will understand that something is serious to you if you emphasize how it stands out from the other things that we all have going on in our lives.

If you have a pain or other symptom that is new or that interferes with your daily activities, make that clear to your physician or nurse -- he or she should pay attention when a patient says something like that.

If you have a symptom such as chest pain that happens intermittently, keep a record of how often it occurs and under what circumstances. In the case of pain, keep track of its severity (use a 1 to 10 scale).

Lastly, use specific words to describe your symptoms -- is your cough dry or hacking? Is your pain sharp or dull? Those words will help your doctor understand what is going on.

Most importantly, don't leave your doctor's office until all your questions are answered. Most patients ask fewer than two questions per office visit. Your physician's responsibility is to make sure you are fully informed of your medical problems and the treatment you receive, so speak up with any questions!