How to get the most out of your doctor’s appointment

Have you ever left a medical appointment only to realize there were important questions you forgot to ask? Or have you ended a visit feeling uncertain about what you discussed with your provider?

These common experiences can leave you feeling frustrated — and less able to make informed decisions about your health. Here are tips to help you maximize your time with your doctor or other health care provider and ensure your visit focuses on what matters most to you.

A little planning goes a long way

Often, our attention is on making a medical appointment and then getting to that appointment — not necessarily planning ahead for what we want to discuss.

“When people just show up for an appointment and go with the flow of the conversation, it can lead to disappointment sometimes, because what I think is important to discuss may not coincide with their priorities,” says Michelle Signs, DO, an internal medicine physician at MultiCare Advanced Primary Care – Spokane Valley.

To avoid that pitfall, spend 15 minutes preparing for your appointment. The Institute for Health Improvement offers a free checklist that helps you think through four key areas of life that influence your health and well-being:

1. What matters most to you right now. What’s going well? What would you like to improve? Have there been changes in your life or health since your last appointment?
2. Medications. What medications are you taking in what doses? How do you feel about these medications — are they helping you reach your health goals? Are they causing any problems? Is cost an issue?
3. Mood, mind, memory and sense of well-being. Have you noticed any sustained changes to your mood, mind or memory since your last appointment? How do you feel most days?
4. Mobility. How active are you and what sorts of activities do you do? What barriers interfere with your ability to be active or get around?

While the checklist is designed for older adults, it’s beneficial for people of any age.

Once you’ve answered the questions within these four areas (there are more questions in the checklist), write down your top three concerns. Then bring that list of three items to your appointment.

“What I like about the checklist is that it helps patients focus on themselves,” says Cathy Cooper, LICSW, a social worker specializing in palliative care at MultiCare Auburn Medical Center. “It helps providers get to know their patients, normalizes hard conversations and can lead to more person-centered care.”

What to do at the appointment

So you’ve planned ahead and prepared your list of three priorities. What’s next?

For one thing, it’s important to remember that your doctor or other health care provider may have their own list of priorities based on your medical history, reason for the appointment or other factors, so you may need to reconcile your agendas.

“I try to work with patients to see how we can accomplish their goals and mine during the time we have,” Dr. Signs says. “Some issues, symptoms or questions may need to take precedence over others. I see my interactions with patients as an ongoing conversation — not a one-time event. If we don’t get through their entire list during our appointment, then we’ll make a plan to cover the rest.”

Here are additional tips to help you have a productive visit.

Ask if you don’t understand. Let your provider know if you don’t understand what they’re telling you about any aspect of your health, diagnosis or treatment.

“I always appreciate it when patients stop me and tell me what’s unclear, or ask me follow-up questions,” Dr. Signs says. “If I don’t know what they don’t understand, then it can cause problems with their care and it really hinders our ability to have an open conversation.”

Take notes. You and your provider may cover a lot of topics during your appointment, and it can be hard to remember it all. While many patients receive after-visit summaries, taking a moment to jot down details in your own words can be helpful. Take notes in a small notepad or on your phone. You can also audio record the visit, but ask your provider’s permission before recording.

Bring someone with you. Having a friend or family member accompany you to an appointment — particularly if you have a complex condition — can be helpful. This person may be able to chime in with details about your health situation that you may not have noticed. They can also provide an extra set of ears — helping you to remember information or instructions when at home.

If you’re a caregiver who accompanies your loved one to an appointment, remember to let your loved one be the driver of the conversation as much as possible, Cooper says. Share observations as they are relevant, but let the conversation remain primarily between the patient and their provider.

Summarize. At the end of the appointment, verbally summarize what you think the highlights were and ask your provider if it’s accurate. Summarizing in your own words can make it more likely you’ll understand and remember the information.

Forgot to ask a question? Don’t fret

What if a question only dawns on you after the appointment ends? Next steps depend on the nature of your question. If it’s important — related to instructions about your care or a troubling symptom, for example — you can:

• Send a MyChart message*
• Call the provider’s office
• Return to the provider’s office (if you haven’t left the premises yet)

If the question is not urgent, then you could put it on your list for the next appointment.

*Charges may apply for certain types of messages. Visit our MyChart Messaging page to learn more.