Chronic Care

Get the most out of your doctor’s visit

Man talking to doctor

Use these tips for remembering details, bringing up awkward topics, and getting the best care and treatment.  

Finally booked that eye exam or yearly checkup? Well done on being proactive about your health! But there are still some simple steps you can take before your visit to prep.  

“A lot needs to happen in our short visit together,” says Robert F. Raspa, MD, a family physician in Jacksonville, Florida. The average time a doctor spends with a patient is only 22 minutes, he says. To make the most out of every one of those minutes, use these helpful tips.   

1. Make a list.  

Many people get home after a doctor’s visit and realize they’d forgotten to ask a certain question. Before your appointment, write down your health concerns and questions. Put them in order of how important they are. (Remember: 22 minutes. You might not get to everything.)  

One more thing to add to the list: the names of all the medications you take. That includes supplements and over-the-counter drugs. Having a complete list can help your doctor avoid drug interactions. Or it might point to what’s behind a symptom you’re having.    

At your appointment, show your list to your nurse during check-in. Then show it to your doctor right away (in case not everything on your list was passed along). If you don’t make it through the entire list? Ask the doctor if you can follow up ​​later. Make a note on your list so you don’t forget. 

2. Know your history.  

Your family’s health history can offer some clues about issues you might come up against. It can help guide your doctor on screenings you might need and when. Say your dad had colon cancer, for example. You might need to be screened before the recommended age of 45.  

Before your visit, make a call to your parents and grandparents, if you can. Ask them about any health issues in the family. Take notes so you don’t forget.  

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3. Don’t be shy.   

Talking about your health can be uncomfortable. That’s natural. But don’t let it stop you from bringing things up.  

Keep in mind that your doctor wants to help you. To do that, they need complete and correct information. To put yourself more at ease, let your doctor know you’re feeling a little shy. Open with something like, “This is uncomfortable for me to talk about.” That shows you would be grateful for a kind response.  

4. Bring a family member or friend.   

Having someone by your side can be very helpful. They can be a second set of eyes and ears to help remember details and to ask questions.     

“The best thing your loved one can do is take notes for you. Give them permission to speak up,” Dr. Raspa says. Often, it’s the patient’s partner or family member who asks for more details about a test or a medication, he says.  

Before your appointment, check with your doctor’s office to see if they’ll let a visitor join in person. If not, bring them into the room by phone. Before you start talking with your doctor, call your loved one on speaker. Turn the phone so they can hear everyone. Give them a job, like listening to your doctor’s orders, so they can ask questions. Even if they don’t speak, having a buddy can help calm your nerves.  

5. Record your visit.  

You might want to listen to it again later. That can be helpful: Research shows it helps patients remember and understand info their doctors gave them.    

Always ask for your doctor’s okay before you start recording. You might not legally need their permission. (It depends on which state you live in.) But being honest with your doctor is a good way to set the stage for a positive relationship.   

Sources   

  1. Tsulukidze M, Durand M, Barr PJ, et al. “Providing Recording of Clinical Consultation to Patients — A Highly Valued but Underutilized Intervention: A Scoping Review.” Patient Education and Counseling. June 2014; vol. 95, no. 3: pp. 297-304. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/24630697 

  2. “State, Federal Laws Govern Whether Doctor Visits Can Be Recorded.” AAP News. American Academy of Pediatrics. April 30, 2019. https://www.americanpatient.org/can-patients-record-their-doctor-visits/ 

  3. “Colorectal Cancer Early Detection, Diagnosis, and Staging.” American Cancer Society. Revised January 29, 2024. https://www.cancer.org/content/dam/CRC/PDF/Public/8606.00.pdf