Whether you’re going in for your annual physical or seeing a specialist for an injury or illness, it’s important to be prepared to get the most out of your time with your healthcare provider.
“As patients, we often think we have unlimited time for a visit, but that’s just not the reality,” says Angela Murphy, patient education specialist at Henry Ford Health. “Most office schedules only allow about 20 minutes for each provider to spend with a patient, so you need to make the most of every minute.”
Here, Murphy offers tips to prepare for a doctor’s appointment so that you leave with all the answers you need.
Set Realistic Expectations
The first step is to set clear expectations for what you want to get out of the visit with your provider.
Those expectations will vary depending on the type of doctor visit you’re having. If the visit is for a specific illness or injury, all the concerns you want to discuss should focus on that one issue. That doesn’t mean you shouldn’t mention other symptoms—in fact, you should since they could all be related. But if your doctor feels you may be dealing with multiple conditions, you should expect that they’ll want you to make additional appointments to address them.
Same goes for when you have an annual physical. “Wellness visits are typically covered by insurance, but many patients don’t realize that if they want to discuss a new injury or illness during a wellness visit, they may be charged for it,” says Murphy. “Or your doctor may ask you to make a separate appointment to seek treatment.”
How To Prepare For A Doctor’s Appointment
It’s rarely a good idea just to wing it at a doctor’s appointment. Instead, write out a plan for what you need to bring to your doctor’s attention. You can even rank your concerns in order of priority. That way, if you do run out of time, at least you’ve covered the most pressing issues.
If you’re going to the doctor for an acute visit (because you’re sick or injured), you might want to start by taking some notes on symptoms in the lead-up to your appointment. Write down:
- When symptoms first started
- How frequently they occur
- What your symptoms feel like
- What makes your symptoms feel worse or better
- Any remedies you’ve tried and how they affected your symptoms
If you’re going for a wellness visit, your list might include things like:
- Any new medications or supplements you’re taking
- Lifestyle habits, including diet, exercise, smoking and alcohol (be honest!)
- Updates to your personal or family health history
Murphy also recommends coming up with a list of questions to ask your doctor. “And when the doctors says, ‘Do you have any questions?,’ don’t be afraid to pull out your list,” she says.
It’s so easy to forget what you wanted to ask, especially if you feel a bit rushed. “Having the list you made when you were calm and had time to think about it can be really helpful,” says Murphy.
If you’re having your first meeting with a specialist—especially for an appointment that might be stressful—consider bringing along a friend or family member. “When you’re in a stressful situation, your ability to process information decreases,” says Murphy. “Having another set of ears can be really important for making sure you leave with all the information you need.”
Leave With Clear Next Steps
There’s nothing more frustrating than getting home from a doctor’s appointment and realizing you’re unsure about medication they prescribed or follow-up test instructions. But those are common problems. “It’s easy to get information wrong or forget when you get home,” says Murphy. “Writing down some notes throughout the appointment can help.”
Murphy is a big proponent of using a technique called “teach back” with your doctor at the end of your appointment. “To make sure you heard all their instructions correctly, go over them before you leave,” she says. You could say, “I think you want me to do this, is that correct?” Or if you’ve been taking notes, refer to those and say, “This is what I wrote down, is this right?” Using the teach back method can help you feel empowered and more in control.
It's important to view your doctor as a partner in your healthcare. “When you come to them prepared with what they need to treat you, you’re going to leave feeling like they’re taking better care of you,” says Murphy. “That partnership puts everyone on the same page.”
Reviewed by Angela Murphy, Manager of the Health Literacy and Patient Education program at Henry Ford Health.
