Questions to ask your doctor

Having a good relationship with your doctor is so important. During the years following college, I bounced around from place to place. I don't know why, but after a year or so in one apartment, I always felt the need to move. Moving from city to city like I did, I never kept a consistent relationship with a doctor. Now that I'm older and -- dare I say -- settled in one place, I've been seeing the same doctor for seven years. I've learned to appreciate having a physician that knows me, my son, and both of our health histories.

If you're going to a new doctor, there are some questions that are good to ask. AOL Health has a slideshow with 10 questions you should ask your doctor. Some of the questions are:

• "Do I really need that test?" Sometimes doctors prescribe a test to be cautious, but it's not truly necessary. Talk tests over with your doctor and learn the reasons he/she is recommending them.
  
• "How many surgeries do you perform each year?" It's not insulting to ask your doctor how skilled they are in the surgery you need.
  
• "If I get sick, will you see me in the hospital?" It used to be a matter of routine for physicians to make rounds at the hospital. But the number of physicians who specialize in inpatient care has risen, and many primary-care physicians no longer do rounds. Ask your doctor if he has hospital rounds.