Tips for your Medical Visit

Heading to your doctors office this week? Here are some tips from the front lines on how to get the most out of your appointment.

1. Come prepared

Many offices are booked with patient appointments every 10-15 minutes, and this includes time for us to get your vital signs, ask detailed questions about your primary concern, perform any physical examinations and create a plan. There may be lot of relevant questions we will have once you tell us what has been going on. You may need to get into a gown to be able to be examined appropriately. I will review your past medical history and medications and come up with necessary investigations and a treatment plan with you.

When you think about all this, it is easy to see that managing multiple problems in each visit can get time consuming. I want to respect your time, and waiting for your doctor can be challenging, so it is important to let me know right away if you have multiple concerns for your visit so we can prioritize them and book you back if more time is needed.

Bring all your medications and over the counter supplements, or an up to date list of the names, dosages, and how often you take them. I suggest all patients on multiple medications keep a small up to date list with them at all times in case of an emergency. Especially for medications like blood thinners, allergies, or anti seizure medication. This will help me confirm that my electronic medical record is up to date with your prescriptions.

2. Stay organized

Although many offices now have electronic health records, your record does not move completely seamlessly from office to hospitals, especially if you have multiple medical teams involved in your care. I think it is great when patients have their own health notebook where they keep health information, treatment changes, and notes from their appointments. That way you remain in charge and at the centre of your health care. This is especially handy if you attend medical appointments for your loved ones as their caregiver or health advocate. Write down questions you may have before the appointment, so you can refer to them as the visit proceeds.

3. Come back

Did your symptoms change? Do you have unanswered questions about your treatment plans?

Once you leave my office and we have outlined a plan of treatment or testing, I assume this is all moving forward until we meet again for follow up. It is so important that you are in control of your health care, and book a return appointment if needed.