The other day, my 9 a.m. appointment at the doctor's office ran 45-minutes late. And when I was finally escorted into the check -up room, I had to wait alone for another 10 minutes. Bored to tears and draped in a compromising gown, I realized that appointments would be so much more efficient if patients came armed with a few tools.
1. Keep a journal--Start listing all of your symptoms and health concerns in a journal weeks before your appointment. This way ,when your doctor asks you to explain what's wrong, you can effectively communicate every pain and tingle.
2. Come armed with questions--Doctors are busy and their offices are usually jam-packed, so both of you will no doubt feel rushed during the visit. If you come prepared with questions, you won't run the risk of overlooking a health concern or inquiry.
3. Make a note of all of the medications you're taking--Again, time is money. Instead of trying to remember all of the meds your taking, the info will be right in front of you--long, complex pharmaceutical jargon and all.
4. Bring a calendar--This way you'll know exactly when you last period took place and you'll be able to schedule follow-up visits without having to worry about whether or not you have to stay at work late that day.
5. Do paperwork ahead of time--Some doctor's offices will allow you to fill out medical questionnaires and insurance forms at home. Call ahead and see if you can do this at your doctor's office. This saves time and gives you an opportunity to be more thorough.
Leave a comment