Minutus

Hello,

I'm wondering how many practitioners mail out a case form to be completed by a new patient prior to the first (non-acute) consultation? Do you find it worthwhile?

Thanks for any assistance,
Chris

[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]

I do send out a form, and I do find it useful. The biggest use is that it gives me some information about the client before I see him or her -- often the chief complaint, some important physical generals, and an idea of the energetic state. This gives me a chance to think ahead of time about what distinguishing factors are likely to be important in choosing a remedy so that I make sure to get that information, along with whatever else the client may bring up. Also, sometimes, something they mention on the form, like medication they're taking, can alert me to an important underlying condition they may take for granted and not even mention in the interview, without my asking for more details about it. Not infrequently, that turns out to be a focal point of the case. Recently -- another example of useful information from a patient's general health history -- because I asked about vaccinations on the form, a client wrote that she'd been vaccinated 15 times for typhoid and smallpox (because of traveling a lot)!! She's now in her 80s, no longer travels, and would never have mentioned that if the question hadn't been on the form, but it sent up a red flag about the possibility of ailments from vaccination that turned out to be a pivotal factor in choosing the remedy.

Rosemary

Stopped using those forms - instead I ask them to keep a journal for 3 or 4 days before their appointment (unless it is an emergency visit) - what they eat and when, how they feel at different times of day, when a symptom is worse or better, sleep habits, etc. They say they never thought of certain things before - and they seem preped to talk about themselves - with the forms - they seemed annoyed, if they had taken the time to write, there should be no more questions - and I kept asking them to explain portions (i.e. when do you feel worse?). I also ask them to take a page in their journal and list all the 'big events' in their physical lives - accidents, surgeries, babies, etc. You would be amazed at how much the appearance of their 'journal' tells about their mental state. I also ask them to bring a bag with ALL bottles of meds, vitamines, herbs, etc. That too gets a better response than asking them on a form 'what meds have you taken', or 'what herbs have you taken'.

'Will be interested to learn how others work.

Donna

Hi Chris,

I would be nearer Rosemary's response - a form-filling exercise,
so that it doesn't eat into interview time, but after reading
Donna's reply below, I'm seriously considering changing my
tactics ! (Thanks Donna for sharing it).

regards, Barbara

--- In minutus@yahoogroups.com, "Donna Rona"
wrote:

journal for 3 or 4 days before their appointment (unless it is an
emergency visit) - what they eat and when, how they feel at
different times of day, when a symptom is worse or better, sleep
habits, etc. They say they never thought of certain things before -
and they seem preped to talk about themselves - with the forms -
they seemed annoyed, if they had taken the time to write, there
should be no more questions - and I kept asking them to
explain portions (i.e. when do you feel worse?). I also ask them
to take a page in their journal and list all the 'big events' in their
physical lives - accidents, surgeries, babies, etc. You would be
amazed at how much the appearance of their 'journal' tells about
their mental state. I also ask them to bring a bag with ALL
bottles of meds, vitamines, herbs, etc. That too gets a better
response than asking them on a form 'what meds have you
taken', or 'what herbs have you taken'.
be completed by a new patient prior to the first (non-acute)
consultation? Do you find it worthwhile?
Homoeopathy and educational benefit of its members. It makes
no representations regarding the individual suitability of the
information contained in any document read or advice or
recommendation offered which appears on this website and/or
email postings for any purpose. The entire risk arising out of
their use remains with the recipient. In no event shall the
minutus site or its individual members be liable for any direct,
consequential, incidental, special, punitive or other damages
whatsoever and howsoever caused.
message with the subject of 'Digest' to ashahrdar@y... to receive
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I always do. Firstly I get their name spelt correctly and also it allows them to think about and get information about the things I have asked e.g. family medical history.

Rochelle

I never do.
I found out that it removes the spontaneity of the first contact, and when I
did, many patients tended to cling to the facts that were written and we
could not wander in their history.
After letting them talk, I walk them through a pretty standard pattern of
questions, so that I do not forget to ask about important things.
Dr. J. Rozencwajg, MD, PhD.
"The greatest enemy of any science is a closed mind".

Thanks, Rochelle. Yes, this is another definite benefit of the forms -- that they have thought for a bit about the kinds of things that make a difference homeopathically, like physical generals, so they're more likely to talk about them in the interview. Rosemary

Doesn't the info on the forms prejudice you towards remedies before seeing the patient?
Regards,
Vera

Rochelle Marsden wrote:
I always do. Firstly I get their name spelt correctly and also it allows them to think about and get information about the things I have asked e.g. family medical history.

Rochelle

Very interesting approach Donna, thanks.
--- In minutus@yahoogroups.com, "Donna Rona" wrote:
for 3 or 4 days before their appointment (unless it is an emergency
visit) - what they eat and when, how they feel at different times of
day, when a symptom is worse or better, sleep habits, etc. They say
they never thought of certain things before - and they seem preped to
talk about themselves - with the forms - they seemed annoyed, if they
had taken the time to write, there should be no more questions - and
I kept asking them to explain portions (i.e. when do you feel
worse?). I also ask them to take a page in their journal and list
all the 'big events' in their physical lives - accidents, surgeries,
babies, etc. You would be amazed at how much the appearance of
their 'journal' tells about their mental state. I also ask them to
bring a bag with ALL bottles of meds, vitamines, herbs, etc. That
too gets a better response than asking them on a form 'what meds have
you taken', or 'what herbs have you taken'.
completed by a new patient prior to the first (non-acute)
consultation? Do you find it worthwhile?
Homoeopathy and educational benefit of its members. It makes no
representations regarding the individual suitability of the
information contained in any document read or advice or
recommendation offered which appears on this website and/or email
postings for any purpose. The entire risk arising out of their use
remains with the recipient. In no event shall the minutus site or its
individual members be liable for any direct, consequential,
incidental, special, punitive or other damages whatsoever and
howsoever caused.
with the subject of 'Digest' to ashahrdar@y... to receive a single
daily digest.
Service.

No way, as I tend to work on the mental and emotionals and on the form are questions about physicals and physical generals.

Rochelle