How to Make the Most of a Doctor's Office Visit

As the cost of healthcare rises, the quality of healthcare seems to have declined. More and more doctors cram as many patients into a workday as possible. There should be a revolving door in the office due to the speed at which patients are checked in, examined, and checked out. Doctors have less time for one-on-one patient contact as a result of overbooked appointments. No wonder the American public feels like they are being fleeced by the healthcare system.

It is your right as a patient and a health insurance subscriber to get the most benefit out of a doctor office visit as possible. To avoid the "revolving door" effect, try these tips the next time you need to see a doctor.

1. Make appointments as early in the day as possible. Doctors sometimes double book appointments. When you call to make an appointment, ask for the earliest of the day. As an early patient, you are more likely to be unrushed because the doctor hasn't had a chance to fall behind in their schedule. The atmosphere in a doctor's office is more relaxed in the morning as opposed to the afternoon when the staff is getting tired.

2. Be early for your appointment. It used to be that "on time" was good enough. Nowadays, the earlier you can get to the office the better. Arriving early could get you seen by the doctor quicker especially if another patient is running late. Have all insurance cards and co-payments ready to give to the receptionist.

3. When making an appointment, be specific about your symptoms. To ensure proper and timely care during your doctor visit, let the scheduler know what you need the doctor to perform for you. Depending on why you need to see the doctor, equipment or tests may need to be set up in advance of your visit. Letting the office know in detail what the problem is could avoid having to make another appointment and wasting a co-payment. Also, if you need to see the doctor and not just his/her nurse, express this request at the time you make the appointment.

4. List any questions or concerns on a sheet of paper. If you're like me, by the time you get to the office, you've forgotten what you needed to mention to the doctor. If you are having specific aches, pains, or anything suspicious is going on, write it down. The doctor or nurse can address your concerns at the time of examination. If you need new prescriptions, let the doctor know this as well. Most doctors keep medication samples in their office that they could give you to get you started on a prescription, but you have to ask.

There is nothing we can do about the number of patients a doctor crams into their daily schedule, but we can make sure that our visit is not short changed by being prepared. Make the healthcare system work for you.