Too often, the longest part of a doctor’s appointment is the time spent in the waiting room. Your actual face time with your doctor (maybe 15 minutes for a standard primary care visit) can seem like a blur. “As someone who’s been in both the doctor and patient roles, I can say that it’s frustrating on both ends,” says Dr. John Swartzberg, the chairperson of the Wellness Letter Editorial Board, who saw patients in private practice for 34 years.
No one likes to feel rushed out the door, and most clinicians—doctors, nurse practitioners, and other healthcare providers—would prefer to have the time to address each patient’s concerns without the pressure of tightly scheduled appointments. Beyond that, studies show us that hurried appointments can have real consequences, including a greater likelihood of receiving a prescription that’s not appropriate for you.
Unfortunately, our healthcare system is not built for long appointments with room for in-depth conversations. That means each of us has to get the most out of every brief visit—by going in with a plan. Here’s some advice on crafting one, based on Dr. Swartzberg’s own experience and tips from expert organizations.
Make a list of questions. Many of us would never head to the grocery store without first making a list. You should have the same mindset around medical appointments. Once you’re sitting on the exam table, it’s easy to forget some of the issues you wanted to discuss, so a good idea is to prepare a list of questions and concerns to bring to your appointment, with the most pressing ones up top. You may not be able to get to everything during that visit, but ranking your questions at least ensures that you and your doctor will address the ones most important to you.
It’s also a good idea to keep your questions concise whenever possible; the more specific and clear you can be, the better. That helps your doctor understand your concerns and prioritize issues to discuss. Some examples:
- I’ve been having low back pain for a few weeks. What can I do?
- Am I up to date on all my vaccinations?
- I’m wondering if my new blood pressure medication is causing side effects. Since I started it I’ve been having dizziness (or symptom X).
If you’d like help in organizing your thoughts, the federal Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality has some handy resources designed for that.
Gather information. Along with that list of talking points, make sure you bring any other information your doctor might need. That includes details on all of your prescriptions, over-the-counter medications, and supplements; some doctors like patients to bring them in a bag—or you can write them down or, better yet, fill out a medication worksheet. And be sure to let your doctor know about any changes in your medical history since your last visit: ER trips or hospitalizations, new diagnoses or prescriptions from another doctor, new test results. Try to have any previous pertinent medical records shared with the provider you’re seeing, whether it’s your primary care doctor or a specialist, ahead of the appointment.
If you have electronic health records that all of your doctors can access, that makes things easier, of course. But it’s still a good idea to check your patient portal before your appointment, to see whether the information there is up to date. Finally, if you keep any kind of health logs, such as blood pressure or blood sugar readings, bring those as well.
Mind your eyes and ears. Make sure you can see and hear well enough during your appointment. Bring your eyeglasses, and if you use hearing aids, wear them. If you do have difficulty with hearing, tell your doctor at the outset and ask her or him to make adjustments to help you—like facing you while speaking or slowing down a bit.
Consider having a companion tag along. It’s often helpful to have a family member or friend with you at an appointment, to help with taking notes or remembering what your doctor said. You would need to ask that person in advance, of course—and it’s also wise to lay out the kind of help you want. You don’t want your well-meaning companion to take over or interrupt with questions that could sidetrack the conversation. You might also want to designate some alone time with your doctor to cover anything you prefer to keep private.
Telehealth tips
Online visits have certain perks—the waiting room is in the comfort of your own home, for one—but they take prep work, too. You should still have your list of priorities ready and check all of the other boxes discussed above. In addition:
- Be sure the technical pieces are in order—that your internet connection is working; your device is sitting on a desk or other level surface (not in your hands or on your lap); there’s enough light for your doctor to see you clearly (with light sources to the side or overhead, not behind you); you’re in a private, quiet location.
- Be on time. Just as with in-office visits, your doctor might not be available right on the dot. But you should try logging on early, in case there are connection issues. In some cases, your doctor’s office might call you shortly before the appointment to ask a few questions, so you’d need to plan time for that, too.
- If there’s an area of your body you’ll need your doctor to see, figure out the logistics ahead of time. You might need a flashlight to highlight a skin rash, for instance. Or it might be better to take a picture of the affected area; you can ask your doctor’s office how to send it.
Final thoughts. Planning for your appointment is a critical first step. But communication can be a tricky thing, and even the most prepared patient armed with a list might freeze up in the exam room. Start off by asking how much time your doctor has for the visit; that way, you’ll both know you’re on the same page regarding the time-crunch reality. If you don’t get all of your questions addressed during the visit, you can ask to make another appointment.
And if you’re worried that this proactive approach won’t be well received, here is Dr. Swartzberg’s perspective: “I always liked it when patients came in with a list. It gave me a good sense of their concerns and allowed me to compare their priorities with my own. We could better address the things that we both felt were important. That kind of mutual understanding is critical.” But if you do get pushback from your doctor, or feel your concerns are being brushed aside on a regular basis—and you’ve tried discussing the matter with your doctor and the office staff—it may be time to find a new healthcare provider.
