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The physician office visit is an essential step in maintaining your overall health and well-being.
While physicians are experts in their field of medicine, they only know as much about you as you tell them. Be prepared, open and honest in order to form a good partnership. To get the most out of your appointment, consider bringing the items and information listed below.
Medications - It’s easiest to put all of your medications in a bag and bring them to your appointment. (Refrigerated items may need to be in a cooler bag.) If this is not possible, make a list of all medications that you take, including dosages, whether there have been any recent changes by another physician, and if you need any refills. This is a great way for your physician to see exactly what medications you are taking and compare this to the medication list in your chart. It is also helpful for documenting medications ordered by other physicians/specialists. Be sure to ask questions about administration techniques of injectable medications and/or inhalers, if needed.
Blood Pressure Readings - Check your blood pressure at home on the day of your appointment. It is helpful to keep a log of trending blood pressures to help determine if you need changes with your medications. Keep track of the time of day when your blood pressure was taken, and note if you were not feeling well (dizzy, lightheaded, very tired, headache, etc.) at the time of the reading.
Glucometer/Blood Glucose Readings - A morning blood sugar reading before eating or drinking anything is typically the most helpful. Your physician may ask you to keep track of blood sugars before meals, in the evening and/or two hours after eating. Please bring your glucometer or Continuous Glucose Monitoring (CGM) device (Ex: Dexcom or Free Style Libre) to your appointment, if you have one.
Weight - You may have been asked to keep track of your daily weight, especially if you have been diagnosed with congestive heart failure. Weigh yourself daily first thing in the morning, after urinating but before eating breakfast. This record of daily weights can be very useful in tracking how well your disease is being managed and determining if medication changes may be needed.
Immunizations - It is very important to keep a record of your immunizations/vaccines. Vaccines may be given at clinics, physicians’ offices or pharmacies. Providing a list of all your immunizations and dates they were given helps your physician make the best decisions about your care.
Advanced Directives - These documents provide instructions about your medical care if you are unable to communicate your wishes, and may include a Living Will or Power of Attorney. It is important to have Advanced Directives as part of your medical record, and to periodically review and update these documents.
To assure that you get the most out of your visit, make sure that you are an active participant on your health care team!
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