Making the Most of Your Appointment

Many people are more satisfied with their health care if they share the responsibility with their health professionals. Your health professional is an expert on medical care, but you are the expert on yourself. Often there is more than one option for diagnosing or treating a condition. By being a partner with your health professional, you can help choose the option that best fits your values, beliefs, and lifestyle. You also will feel more confident about carrying out the chosen treatment.

Here are some tips for being a good partner with your health professional:

• Build a relationship with your health professional. Let your health professional know that you want to be a partner in your health care. Tell the health professional what your expectations are.
• Be an active participant in each appointment. Listen carefully to what your health professional says. If you do not understand a diagnosis or treatment, ask questions. Tell the health professional if you do not think that you can carry out the prescribed treatment.
• Prepare your child for tests and exams. Let your child know why he or she is seeing a health professional and what will be done during the visit. Your child's age and developmental level will determine how best to prepare him or her.

What is the reason for your appointment?

During your appointment, you will need to answer some important questions so that you and your health professional can plan your care together. Completing the appropriate forms before the appointment helps you provide correct and complete information, take an active role in your health care decisions, and make the most of your limited appointment time.

Choose the form that best describes your reason for seeing the health professional.

Do you take medicines?

If you take prescription or nonprescription medicines, including herbal remedies or vitamins, bring all your medicines with you to any appointment with a health professional. If you cannot bring the medicines, bring a list of the medicines that you take(What is a PDF document?).

What other forms might be helpful?

If you and your health professional are going to discuss a new medicine, medical test, surgery, or special treatment, choose a form from the following list. Then fill in your information, and take the form with you to your visit. Completing the form will help you understand the importance of the treatment your health professional is advising for your health condition. If you do not have the form at the time of your visit, complete the form at home after the visit.

• New medicine information(What is a PDF document?)
• Medical test information(What is a PDF document?)
• Surgery information(What is a PDF document?)
• Special treatment information(What is a PDF document?)

Also, bring a copy of your health plan's list of covered prescription drugs—also known as a formulary.

What do you need to do after the appointment?

Update the medical records that you keep at home. For more information, see the topic Home Medical Records.

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Online Resources

Organization

• Early Disease Detection
• Home Medical Records
• Immunizations
• Making Wise Health Decisions
• Medical Specialists
• Reducing Medication Costs
• Smart Decisions: Know Your Options
• Work Closely With Your Doctor
• Work in Partnership With Your Health Professional to Prevent Medical Errors

Other Works Consulted

• Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality (2000). 20 Tips to Help Prevent Medical Errors. Patient Fact Sheet (AHRQ Publication No. 00-P038). Rockville, MD: Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality.

• Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality (2004). Five Steps to Safer Health Care. Patient Fact Sheet (AHRQ Publication No. 04-M005). Rockville, MD: Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality. Also available online: http://www.ahrq.gov/consumer/5steps.htm.

• Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality (2007). Be Prepared for Medical Appointments. Patient Fact Sheet (AHRQ Publication No. 07-0039-A). Rockville, MD: Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality. Also available online: http://www.ahrq.gov/qual/beprepared.htm.

• Mold JW (2006). Facilitating shared decision-making with patients. American Family Physician, 74(7): 1209–1210, 1212.