How to Make the Most of Your Next Doctor’s Appointment
Let’s face it, visiting the doctor can be scary. If you’re like most of us, you may not see the doctor all that often, and when you do, it is often because you have a specific reason — or series of reasons — that have led you to seek the advice of an expert on the matter.
If you don’t have an existing rapport with your doctor (and sometimes even when you do), it’s easy to get tripped up, forget all the things you wanted to ask, or walk out without a clear understanding of what you should be doing next or what else needs to happen to make sure you get your health concerns resolved.
Like many things in life, just a little preparation can go a long way to ensure you get the most out of your precious time with your doctor. That’s why I’ve put together this step-by-step approach to help in your preparation.
Before the Visit
- Make note of things that have been bothering you, what questions you would like answered, and what you hope to get out of the appointment.
The doctor will want to know things like:
- What symptoms are you experiencing?
- Where you are experiencing them?
- How long have you been experiencing your symptoms/issue?
- Are you having pain? Does the pain radiate (travel or move) to any other areas? How long does the pain last? Is there anything that makes the pain better or worse?
You can easily put all of these answers on a single sticky note, to help you remember everything you wanted to talk about and so you don’t freeze up when you get there. This will help ease conversation and allow you to communicate better with your doctor.
2. Create a list of medications you are taking.*
Include the name, dosage and how often you are supposed to take each medication. Then add additional details like if you often skip the medication or how it makes you feel when you take it. Also include any supplements or unique diet considerations (like if you are a practicing vegan). Having a list of medications on-hand allows the doctor to spend more time conversing with you, eliminating one time-consuming step in the diagnosis process.
*You shouldn’t rely on your doctor’s computer system to keep track of your medications as you never know whether all the information you will want is going into your file or when you might have to see a different doctor. You can, however, easily manage all of this on your own by transferring your medications to Orderly Health, where you can keep track of all your active prescriptions, dosage, quantity, refills, and even have them scheduled for delivery when your prescription is up for renewals.
3. Compile notes, test results, and other information from previous visits.
Electronic medical records have been helpful in allowing a doctor to see previous doctor’s visits and hospital stays, but they are not 100% reliable. If you visited a different hospital or physician, your doctor may not have access to the information they recorded, unless you request a transfer of files.
During the visit
- Ask questions! Continue to take notes and address what you don’t understand.
Make sure you get answers to your most important questions like:
- What is your main health concern?
- What — if anything — you need to do about this health concern?
- Why you need to do this? How will it benefit you? What happens if you don’t do it?
Don’t leave the office without understanding why you are taking certain medications, ordering follow-up tests, or scheduling a follow-up visit if necessary.
2. If you feel you didn’t have adequate time to address all of your concerns, ask to schedule a follow-up call or ask to speak to a nurse.
Nurses are wonderful resources and can often answer your questions as well as (and often better than) a doctor.
3. Consider bringing a friend or recording the conversation.
A friend or family member who you trust with your personal information may be able to enhance your understanding with a different perspective. Recording the conversation may help you remember everything your doctor said, fill in gaps, and deepen your understanding. Make sure to inform your doctor if you choose to record the conversation.
After the visit
Never hesitate to call your doctor and ask questions, update your doctor if something changes, or if you haven’t received your test results.
It is important that you understand what you need to do to maintain your best health. A great strategy when you call is to ask to leave a message with a call back number for the doctor.
And remember, Orderly Health can help manage all of this. You can create and store previous medical conditions, medications you’re taking, and insurance information securely on your profile. We can also help you connect with a live, board certified physician virtually, keep record and notes of your online visits, and manage and order medications that you transfer to our online pharmacy. To find out more, go to www.OrderlyHealth.com.
