Doctor’s Visits

• Take a list of questions to your visit
• Know your health info
• Keep a diary to track any problems or concerns about your health
• Make a list of all medications you are taking

What will you be asked and why?

You will be asked for your contact info, health plan, family history, and past health info. This helps the doctor learn your health history, the health of close relatives, and where your health is now so that they can treat you.

In many cases, office staff are ready to help you fill out health care forms so that the doctor can have as much info as possible. By having all your info your doctor will be able to give you the best care.

 

A good bond with your doctor takes being honest and clear. Ask the right questions about your health to get info you need about concerns you have. Asking the right questions lowers the risk of errors from occurring and leads to better health.

• It's ok to tape-record your visit, take notes or bring a friend or family member with you
• Keep your talk focused to make sure to cover your main questions and concerns. These are any issues you may have and how they impact your life
• Ask your doctor to clear up anything you don’t understand
• Let your doctor know if you are seeing other doctors
• Share info about any recent health tests your doctor may not know about

• What is my health condition?
• What has caused my health issue?
• Can my health issue be treated?
• How will this health issue change my health?
• What should I expect?
• Should I make any life changes?
• What is the care for my health issue?
  • How good has this care been with others?
  • Are there any risks tied to this care?
  • What can I gain from this care?
  • When will care start, and how long will it last?
  • Are their limits to this care that have to do with food or things I like to do?
  • Are there other choices I can pick from?
  • Will my care involve any drugs and if so, what should I do if I miss a dose?

• How long will I need to take this medication?
• How will this medicine help me?
• Are there side effects?
• Do I have to take this medicine with food?
• Have others used this medication?
• Will this medication interact with other medicines I take?
• What should I do if I have a bad reaction to this medicine?
• What will happen if I miss a dose?

Reading your meds. There are certain pieces of info that your doctor will always have on meds. The doctor's info, such as their name, address, and phone number, will be on the bottle. In the upper section of the meds sheet, there will be a place for your name, your age or birth date, your address, and the date your meds are given to you. Below this, your doctor will write drug info.
 

• The medicine given to you by your doctor will tell you how much to take and how to take it.
• Info for the people who work at the pharmacy is on the bottle and it tells the person at the pharmacy how much of the medicine to give you when you will need to fill it the first time and how many times you can refill it.
• Your doctor will also sign and date the bottom of the form to prove that it was prescribed by a doctor.
• Written orders from a doctor for a controlled substance, one that the federal government has decided can cause "abuse or dependence," such as morphine or methadone, will have added rules. The form will say how many times you can fill the medicine and if you can have refills. It must be done by hand and must be signed by the prescribing doctor.
• Many doctors now send meds electronically to the drugstore of your choice to make it easier for you.

Lab Tests & Diagnostic Methods

Lab tests and preventative services are used to check if a person’s health is normal. A lab can test some of your blood, urine, or a group of your cells to see if something is wrong. A diagnostic test or procedure can also show if you have something wrong, like blood pressure testing can show if you have low or high blood pressure.

The tests use a range because what is normal differs from person to person. Many things can change your test results.
 

• Your sex, age and race
• What you eat and drink
• Drugs you take
• How well you followed doctor’s orders

Your doctor may also compare your results from earlier tests. Laboratory tests are often part of a yearly checkups to look for changes in your health. They help doctors diagnose medical conditions, plan your treatments, and keep track of your conditions is changing over time.

• What kind of tests will I have?
• What do you expect to find out from these tests?
• When will you know the results?
• Will I need more tests?

• Follow what your doctor tells you.
• Fill any prescriptions you were given and take them as directed.
• Schedule a follow-up visit if you need one.
• Review your explanation of benefits and pay your medical bills.
• Contact your doctor, health plan, or the state Medicaid or CHIP agency with any questions.