Funny. Where I work, if I show/explain/tell someone how to do something, I can either repeat the lesson every time the question comes up, or document the procedure in detail and give the person a copy. If I do take the time to document it, then I can simply reprint a copy every time the question comes up.
Now if only I had a way to handle the situation where someone attempts to perform a task, but forgets an important step or two along the way.
It hadn't previously occured to me do this in the doctor's office, but it's a good idea - the info a doctor gives can sometimes be (or should be) fairly involved. It's worth writing down.
Furthermore, taking notes allows you to process the information on two levels. The technical details (names of things, etc) can be relegated to the notepad and forgotten. Important general concepts can then receive your greater attention. A doctor who gives more involved advice to a note-taker is a doctor who knows that you can handle more information if you're writing some of it down.