Five Things to Prepare for Before You See the Doctor

1) Payment arrangements

2) History of any surgeries or major medical procedures you have had

3) Allergies and reactions to any types of medications you have been given

4) Some illnesses are more prevalent in families; the doctor will want to know if your family has cancer, heart disease, diabetes or glaucoma as well as many other family diseases

5) Current situation including how long you have had this condition; keep a notebook to track the onset of symptoms such as fever, diarrhea, heart palpitations, rashes, loss of vision, vomiting, etc.

For new patients, the doctor's office will

1) Request your ID and insurance card when you arrive. One thing that a doctor's office will want to know is how you intend to pay for the care that you are given.

2) They will also ask you to sign paperwork related to HIPPA or Health Insurance Patient Protective Act. Because medical records are confidential, you will need to authorize the doctor's office to provide your medical records to your insurance company, as well as your emergency contact, should the need arise.

3) They will ask you to fill out a questionnaire that contains a quick summary of your medical history and any family illnesses

4) If you have moved around or switched doctors you may need to sign patient release forms and provide the names and addresses of your old doctor's so that they can request your records. You will need to allow enough time for this to occur prior if you are asking the doctor to complete medical consent forms for school, a health club, or a passport.

For emergency visits, doctor's will need specific and truthful medical information. If this is your first visit to this doctor, they will require items 1-4.

5) To assess a change in medical condition:

Medications: The doctor will want to know if you are taking any medications currently, and if so, what they are, how often you take them, and what they are for. Write down the milligrams and the names of the drugs, and how long you have been taking them or bring them with you when you go.

Pain:
If you are experiencing pain, they will want to know what kind of pain - sharp, dull, throbbing? Where is the pain and does it radiate from the area? How intense is the pain on a scale of 1-5? They will ask if there other symptoms or recent significant changes to your health or daily life? Feel free to offer information such as "my child was recently exposed to chicken pox" or I was lifting heavy equipment when the pain started.

Lacerations and Cuts, Burns and Rashes:
If there is a cut, they will want to know where it is, and under what conditions it was received, as well as how deep it is. If there is fever, they will want to know how long the fever has been going on, and whether it oscillates from high to low.

Vomiting, Dehydration and other digestive issues
If there is a change in bowel or eating habits, they will also want to know what is going on too.

Providing doctors with the information that they want from you, such as medical history, allergies, and current conditions and medications will help them assess your medical condition to help diagnose treatment and provide the best preventative care. Doctors rely on you to give them honest and factual information. Be prepared for your next doctor's visit with information on these 5 things that doctor's want from you.

Sources:
Personal Experience
HIPPA