Questions To Ask Potential Health Care Providers

There are a number of questions you might consider asking a health care provider you are considering for your care team. You may ask about his or her training, your level of participation in the decision-making process, his or her approach to treatment, and general issues such as insurance and how accessible he or she will be. The focus of your questions will largely depend on the issues that are most important to you and the qualities you seek in a provider.

Following are lists of questions you may consider asking about various topics. These questions may well bring to mind other questions you may want to ask.

Medical Training and Interests

Are you board certified?

Note: This question is relevant for all western doctors, but may not be for complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) providers. Some states require licensure for certain types of CAM practitioners while others do not.

How much experience have you had with hepatitis C? How frequently do you treat people with hepatitis C?

Is hepatitis C one of your primary interests?

[If you are having an invasive procedure such as a liver biopsy] How frequently do you perform this procedure? (Studies have shown the more experienced a health care provider is with a procedure, the more likely the patient will have a good outcome.)

Approach to Treatment Decisions

How do you stay up-to-date on new treatments?

Do you have patients who participate in clinical trials?

Which specialists, hospitals, and/or treatment centers do you work with?

Are you comfortable with me seeking other medical opinions?

Are you comfortable with me seeking information about hepatitis C and treatment options from other sources?

If I decide to investigate and/or include CAM therapies in my treatment plan, will you work cooperatively with other practitioners such as acupuncturists, Chinese medicine specialists, herbalists, and/or naturopaths?

Other Concerns

Do you accept my health insurance?

Will you return my telephone calls in a timely manner? How soon will someone answer my calls?

Will I have access to you via e-mail? How soon will you answer my e-mail messages?

Questions to Help You Communicate Effectively With Your Health Care Providers

Providing your health care practitioners with the answers to the following questions about yourself may help them work more effectively with you.

Are you a cautious person or a risk taker?

How do you approach decisions about your health?

How much or how little do you want to participate in decisions about your treatment?

Do you have any concerns about specific types of treatments?

How much physical work does your job or other duties require?

Is there anything significant going on in your life such as changes or problems in your family life or job that is causing stress or that may interfere with your ability to follow a treatment plan?

How much do you know about hepatitis C?

How much do you want to learn?

How do you feel about mood altering drugs?

How and when do you want to get information and in what form?

Questions to Help You Get the Information You Need From Your Health Care Providers

The following is a list of questions that people with hepatitis C often ask their health care providers. You may have many questions of your own to add to this list. Remember, there is no such thing as a stupid question. If you want to know, ask.

Your Diagnosis

In understandable terms, what is wrong with me?

How do you know I have hepatitis C?

What genotype of hepatitis C do I have?

Treatment Options

What are the best treatment options for my genotype and stage of disease progression?

Is watchful waiting or treatment more appropriate in my case?

What is the goal of the treatment you have recommended? (Goals of treatment can include attempting a cure, slowing disease progression, and/or improving quality of life.)

What is likely to happen if I do not receive treatment?

Are there treatments for my condition that are popular, but not approved? If they are not approved, why aren’t they approved?

What do you think of the unapproved treatments?

Treatments Being Recommended

What are the benefits of the treatment you are recommending?

What are the names and dosages of the drugs/products/supplements you are recommending?

For how long and how often will I need to have treatment?

What are the possible risks and side effects of the treatment being recommended?

What will treatment cost?

How can I expect my life to change during treatment, and how should I plan for this?

Will I need to rearrange work, childcare, travel, or other commitments if I go on this treatment and experience side effects?

Once treatment ends, how often will I need follow-up visits?

Treatment Monitoring

How will we know if the treatment is working?

If treatment is not successful, will the virus mutate or become resistant to potential future treatments?

Treatment Plan

What should I do if I miss a treatment or dose?

Are there prescription or over-the-counter medications or supplements I should take or avoid?

What should I expect during treatment?

After Treatment

Is there any way to predict whether the hepatitis C virus is likely to return?

If it does return, how will I know?

If I respond to therapy, how often should I be tested for a relapse?

These questions are a guide. Other questions may come up for you. We encourage you to ask your health care providers whatever questions you need to have answered to feel comfortable with your treatment choices. Feeling comfortable and confident will ease your mind and help you adjust to whatever treatment protocol you choose.