It can be daunting for patients to be sent for blood tests or investigations without knowing how much it is going to cost or where it will lead to.
- will I have to pay for another consultation to discuss the results?
- are these tests absolutely necessary and can I have a chance to think about it?
- what if the test shows something, might I need another test?
These are reasonable concerns that many of us don't address because we are a doctor who is seeing a patient and will order whatever tests are necessary.
This is fine, but in the self pay sector, we must be transparent about what tests are needed and why they are needed and more importantly, HOW MUCH THEY ARE GOING TO COST.
If you are not discussing this with your patients before you are sending them for the tests, you are acting like a bit of a cowboy even though you might think you are an honourable doctor.
Episode 251
