Michelle Riffer
Doctor Appointments
April 11, 2017
Pro Tips for Preparing for Your Doctor Appointment
You arrive 30 minutes early to complete or review paperwork (again) and then wait. A nurse brings you back and records your weight, BP, vitals then more waiting in a room. You try to awkwardly adjust yourself on a long, loud paper sheet while anxiously staring at the doorknob in anticipation. As a family of 6 with several chronic health conditions between us, there is rarely a month that passes in which we don’t have several doctor’s appointments. With so many under my belt (and co-pays spent!), I fancy myself somewhat of an expert in preparing for appointments to ensure we maximize our time spent with the physician. Often, your time with the Doctor is so short (13-16 minutes on average) that if not prepared you will be walking out the door face-palming yourself for forgetting to bring up concerns when you had the opportunity. This is especially true for those initial specialist appointments that can have a 3+ month wait. Here’s my standard approach for ensuring the most successful visit:
- Have a prioritized list of concerns – this is crucial for a successful appointment in my experience and helps to alleviate the anxiety many of us feel when seeing a doctor. It ensures you cover the topics that are important to you – and if you run out of time, you can rest assured that you’ve covered the most concerning issues. Keep a journal of symptoms, if necessary.
- Have a complete list of your health history – and not just for you, but your family too. It’s important for the doctor to get a clear picture and this is something that isn’t possible for most of us to do on the fly. Illnesses, acute and chronic, surgeries (when, where & who performed), and copies of labs and diagnostics are always appreciated.
- Research – the internet has changed the dynamic of the relationship between patients and their providers. While many doctors complain about patients consulting Dr. Google, there are many reputable sources available for checking symptoms as well as scholarly research articles about just about any health issue you need to know about.
- Medications & Supplements – all prescription & OTC medication, vitamins, supplements, and even herbal teas can be important for your doctor to know about. How much, how often and when you began taking each is equally important. Bonus points if you come with a local (and mail order, if applicable) pharmacy information for the doctor to call in before you even leave the office.
A lot to take in? Here is an easy organizer to prompt you to start conversations with your doctor and remind you about your appointments and medications. You could also add family members if you want! What would you add to this list? Share your tips below!
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