Doctor Visit Prep

Walk into any appointment ready to be heard, get answers, and not forget half of what you wanted to ask.

Before the Visit

• Write down your top 3 concerns in priority order
• For each symptom note: when it started, how often, severity 1-10, what makes it better/worse
• Update your medication list with names, doses, frequency, and what they're for
• List supplements, vitamins, and OTC meds too — they interact
• Note allergies, especially drug allergies and reaction type
• List recent labs, imaging, ER visits, or specialists seen since last appointment
• Note family history changes: new diagnoses in parents/siblings

Bring With You

• Insurance card and ID
• List of questions — on paper or phone, not just in your head
• Any specialist or hospital records they might not already have
• A second person if it's a serious appointment — they'll catch what you miss
• Comfortable clothes you can change in/out of easily

During the Visit

• State your top concern in the first 30 seconds
• Ask: 'What is the diagnosis?' (or working diagnosis)
• Ask: 'What are my treatment options? What are the risks?'
• Ask: 'What should I watch for that means I should call back or go to ER?'
• Ask: 'When should I follow up?'
• Repeat back the plan in your own words — confirms you heard it right
• If something doesn't feel right, say so — you can ask for a second opinion

After the Visit

• Read the visit summary in the patient portal within 48 hours
• Schedule follow-ups, labs, or imaging before you leave the parking lot
• Add new prescriptions to your med list and pharmacy
• Set calendar reminders for any 'come back in X weeks' instruction