Editor’s Note: This story was originally published on Linked-In and is shared with permission by Olga Lucia Torres.

She waited an hour and fifteen minutes to see her doctor. When she was finally called in, the doctor asked why she had come. She took a breath and started to speak. Within seconds, he cut her off. He barreled through his questions. She answered what she could. She never got to explain what she actually came to say. She never asked her question. She left without mentioning her main concern. She told me this story heated. Mad. The way you get when you have been waiting a long time for something that never came. It wasn’t her fault. Research shows that clinicians interrupt patients after a median of 11 seconds. Not minutes. Seconds. Before the patient has finished a single thought.

Here is what I tell my clients:

𝗕𝗲𝗳𝗼𝗿𝗲 𝘆𝗼𝘂 𝘄𝗮𝗹𝗸 𝗶𝗻: Write down your top two concerns. Put the most critical one first. Bring your medication list — every medication, dosage, supplement, and vitamin. Bring someone with you to take notes and advocate, if you can.

𝗗𝘂𝗿𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗮𝗽𝗽𝗼𝗶𝗻𝘁𝗺𝗲𝗻𝘁: Be concise. Start with your main symptom. Focus on one or two issues so the clinician can give them proper attention. Use the teach-back method — repeat instructions back: “I want to make sure I understood. You want me to do this, is that correct?”

𝗜𝗳 𝘆𝗼𝘂 𝗮𝗿𝗲 𝗰𝘂𝘁 𝗼𝗳𝗳: Arrive with your main concern already stated: “I want to make sure we address this today.” If the interruption continues, assert yourself politely: “Please let me finish my thought. I’ll be done in a few more seconds.” And if the visit ends before you do, schedule a follow-up visit.

She waited an hour and fifteen minutes. Her concerns deserved more than 11 seconds.

Save this before your next appointment. Share it with someone who needs it before theirs.