Life & Relationships
4 Doctor-Approved Tips For Getting The Most Out Of Your Next Appointment
Photo by Lord/Adobe Stock
Life & Relationships
4 Doctor-Approved Tips For Getting The Most Out Of Your Next Appointment
Whether it’s a wellness visit or an appointment about a new ailment, these sound strategies will maximize your next trip to the doctor’s office.
If you’ve ever walked out of your doctor’s office only to realize that you forgot to ask the one question you made the appointment for, or felt your mind go totally blank while wearing that dreaded paper gown, you are in good company. Not being prepared for a doctor’s appointment makes it all too easy to lose track of the focus of the visit when you finally make it into the exam room.
But being engaged with your healthcare team is essential. Research shows that empowered patients who take an active role in their health have better quality of life, improved health outcomes and put less strain on the health-care system. “We are all experts in our own symptoms,” says Dr. Carrie Bernard, president of the College of Family Physicians of Canada. “So we need to make sure that we’re at the centre of the information that is considered,” she says.
Still, sometimes it can be tough to know how to ask the right questions and get the help you need when you’re sitting face-to-face with your physician. Here, we’ve rounded up some of the best advice—straight from doctors—on how to make the most of your next checkup.
Arrive ready for your appointment
“It’s great to prepare in advance in order to maximize your time with your health-care provider,” says Dr. Tali Bogler, an academic family physician in the department of family and community medicine at St. Michael’s Hospital in Toronto and a low-risk obstetrics provider. That
means thinking through what you’d like to accomplish during your visit ahead of time and making a list of specific questions or requests that you may have. When you sit down for your appointment, share this list with your doctor right off the bat, so you can prioritize your needs together, she says. If the list is long, you and your doctor may decide to make a follow-up appointment to address the less pressing issues next time.
For some health concerns, such as digestive problems and sleep issues, it’s a good idea to bring specific notes on your symptoms, their duration, what makes them better or worse, and any other details you can provide. “This ensures you’re describing your symptoms properly, which can help your health-care provider have a better understanding of what you’re feeling and make the correct diagnosis,” says Dr. Bogler.
Tip:
If possible, brief the medical staff with your needs when you book your appointment, so they can allot sufficient time for your visit.
Be honest with your doctor
Patients tend to clam up about sexual health issues and taboo lifestyle habits like drinking and smoking, but there’s no need to feel shy. “We understand these topics may be embarrassing to you, but they are not embarrassing to us—they’re part of our day’s work,” says Dr. Jennifer Young, a family doctor in Collingwood, Ont.
Your family doctor is there to usher you through your health journey, but to do that they need to meet you where you are. If you said you were going to quit smoking, or drop 15 pounds, or finally start prioritizing your sleep—but you haven’t been able to do it yet— that’s okay. “The better we understand who you are, the better we are able to diagnose and to give appropriate advice,” says Dr. Young.
Tip:
Talk about your embarrassing or scary issue first. This gives your doctor time to work through it with you, instead of rushing through the tough stuff at the end.
Use "Dr. Google" (if doing research is helpful to you)
“I am always happy if a patient is taking an interest in learning about their health,” says Dr. Bernard. “We want our patients to feel as in control of their health as possible, and information can you feel in control," she says.
Unfortunately, not everything you read online will be correct, helpful or empowering. "You have to be careful about where you get your information from," she says. If you are going to Google your symptoms, lean on reputable sources like hospital networks, universities, government organizations and recognizable national health foundations, such as the Canadian Cancer Society and the Heart and Stroke Foundation of Canada, for example.
Still, even if you’re using reliable resources, doing too much independent research about an illness, ailment or suspicious symptom can sometimes do more harm than good. “I do have to say that it makes some people anxious, and if it's making you more nervous, it's not a good idea," says Dr. Bernard. "You don't need to be searching down all the information, because that's what your doctor is for."
Tip:
When looking up health information online, after you've confirmed that it's a reputable source, be sure to check the date on the webpage, too. Anything that's more than a year old is at risk of being out of date.
Take notes
As you work through the questions you’ve brought with you, be sure to record the answers. You can use a notebook and a pen, or an app on your phone to take notes as your doctor shares information with you. And before you leave your appointment, double check your notes to make sure you’ve covered everything you wanted to discuss, and that you’ve written down all the information you need. You should also confirm that you understood your doctor fully and correctly. “Say at the end what you think the assessment and the plan is, and ask if you have it right,” says Dr. Young.
Tip:
If you are anticipating bad or difficult news, bring a support person with you to your appointment to help you take notes and ask questions.
Doctor's appointment prep checklist
To make the most of your visit, be prepared by following our checklist.
- If you are discussing a new concern, bring a log of your symptoms, including when they began, how long they have persisted and what makes them worse.
- Share changes to your family history.
- Give an update on any new medications or supplements you are taking.
- Have a list of specific questions ready.
- Be prepared to take notes with a pen and paper or use an app on your phone.
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