The Importance of Communicating Clearly

    When Social Security examines a case to determine whether a person is disabled, they rely to a large degree on medical records provided by your mental and physical health care providers.  One of the most important things a person can do when meeting with a doctor is to communicate clearly about any problems they are having and telling them about all of their relevant medical conditions. For example, frequently a claimant at a SS hearing will testify that the medication they take causes side effects, but if their treatment notes don’t reflect that they told the doctor they had side effects, the SS medical record doesn’t support the testimony and it’s usually disregarded. (Doctors don’t always ask about side effects and if you’ve got them it’s important to let the doctor know.) Another example is that sometimes a person says they’re feeling better, but they continue to have symptoms, however, if they don’t tell their health care provider about those symptoms, the record only shows that they are better…not that they continue to have problems.

 

Because so much of a disability case relies on what is communicated to the treating doctor, nurse, psychiatrist, psychologist, etc., it’s crucial that a patient clearly communicates about their condition. It’s often very helpful to both the patient and the doctor if the patient writes down the problems/symptoms they are having before seeing the doctor. The time we get to spend with a doctor these days is often quite limited, so being as prepared as possible helps the communication process and ensures that all important topics are talked about. Ultimately, this clear communication helps establish a Social Security disability case.

-Denise Sarnoff

Associate Attorney

Martin, Jones, & Piemonte

Website: www.mjpdisability.com