• Before calling your doctor, keep a paper and pen ready, so that you can jot down everything that he says. It is very irritating for the doctor to be kept waiting at the other end, while you search for a pen and paper.
  
  
• Write down your list of problems, in a precise manner, so that you can quickly tell the paediatrician about your child's problems, without beating around the bush.
  
  
• If your doctor has prescribed any medicines, check the names after buying the medicines. If you are doubtful that you may have not written the spellings of the medicines, call up the doctor again, and confirm the names again. It is always better to be safe than sorry, even if it means irritating your doctor a little.
  
  
• Another method of ensuring that you get the right medicine as prescribed by the doctor is to go to a chemist's shop, and have the doctor speak directly to the chemist. Since both of them are more familiar with the brand names of various medicines, and can also discuss alternative medicines from different companies, the chances of buying the wrong medicines are reduced.
  
  
• If your doctor does not answer her mobile phone, give her the benefit of doubt. It may not be always possible for your doctor to pick up and answer each and every phone call, immediately.
  
  
• Many parents and doctors find it easy to communicate via sms; so if your doctor is comfortable, you may use it. You will find spelling mistakes of medicines reduced considerably.
  
  
• If you reach your doctor's voice mailbox, speak clearly and leave a precise message. How urgent you think is your child illness should clearly come out in your recorded message, so that the doctor, who may be listening to 10 or 15 messages, can make a decision of whom to call back.

Remember, mobile technology is useful, provided it is respected and put to good use. Many doctors, fearing that their patients will harass them, refuse to answer the phone, and often do not give their patients their personal numbers. So make sure that your communication with the doctor is handled in a mature and precise manner.

Author: Dr. P. V. Vaidyanathan

(The author is a Mumbai-based Paediatrician)