A Checklist For Your Next Doctor's Appointment

A common issue regarding healthcare today is that people feel that their doctor’s appointments are rushed. Many people say that they don’t get enough time to ask questions and, consequently, do not fully understand the instructions their doctor gave them. Everyone gets about 15 minutes of face time with their doctor (unless you're a member of a direct primary care practice), so it’s often difficult to remember everything you wanted to bring up or that was discussed. Being prepared beforehand with a list of questions for your next doctor’s appointment will help ensure a more productive visit and increase the potential for a more effective outcome. Use these tips to prepare yourself for your next office visit:

1) Think about what you want to get out of the appointment.

At the start of your appointment, tell your doctor your goals for the visit and any problems or concerns you want to discuss. Start with your most important issues so your doctor can focus on discussing those without the time pressures he or she may feel at the end of an appointment.

Questions to consider: Is this a well visit, a preventive checkup, or a follow-up? Are you looking for a diagnosis: a name for what you have? Do you need a new treatment plan or a modification of what you’re already doing? 

2) List Your Symptoms

Be honest and provide details. Your doctor needs complete and accurate information to evaluate and treat your medical condition. It’s important to be completely honest, so if you’re smoking occasionally or don’t exercise often, your doctor needs to know. If you’ve scheduled the appointment because of a new health problem than write down your symptoms for your doctor.

Some things to write down are: When the symptoms started. What do they feel like or look like? How severe your pain is on scale of 1 to 10? What seems to trigger your symptoms? How often do they occure and for how long?

3) Write down specific questions you want to ask

Make sure you understand what your doctor is saying. If you don’t understand something your doctor says, ask him or her to explain it to you again. Ask about the risks and benefits of any proposed treatments and possible side effects or interactions of any medications prescribed. 

These might include: What diagnostic tests do I need? What exactly is my disease or condition? What are my treatment options?

4) Write down everything your doctor says in case you forget

Use a notepad or your phone to write down the answers to your questions and any other recommendations your doctor may have. Alternatively, bring a family member or friend to take notes for you so you can focus on what the doctor is saying.

Are you annoyed with today's healthcare system and the limited amount of face time you get with your doctor to discuss how YOU feel? You're not alone. If you want more time with your doctor than consider direct primary care. You'll be granted at least 30 minutes with your doctor, same day appointment scheduling and 24 / 7 access to your doctor's personal cell phone.