PVNS Doctor Appointment Tips

Tips to make your doctors appointment fast and efficient

Here are some ways to help ensure you utilize your time efficiently, accomplish your goals and receive the best medical care possible.

Making Your Appointment:

1. When making your appointment confirm that the office takes your insurance.
2. Ask how much time is reserved for a new patient appointment and also follow up appointments. If you have multiple problems  to discuss at a routine visit let the scheduler know not to double book during your appointment time.
3. Be accurate as to why you need to see the doctor. Otherwise the appropriate time may not be reserved or the necessary equipment to evaluate you may not be available.
4. It greatly increases your chances of being seen on time if you ask for the first appointment in the morning or the first appointment after lunch. This way you are not waiting for the physician to finish with other patients.
5. Complete new patient forms before appointment. Ask if the office has a website were the forms may be printed out. If not ask for them to fax or mail the forms to you. This way you will have access to all the information needed to fill them out completely and you won't be wasting your appointment time filling them out. Hand these forms to the receptionist when you sign in so she may add them to your chart.
6. Make a prioritized list of goals and questions prior to appointment and make a copy for the physician. This allows both of you to focus on your concerns and not forget anything that is pertinent. Try to limit your goals to three main issue so there is time to  evaluate, fully discuss and come up with solutions. If you have more then three main issues it may require another appointment.
7. Keep a health journal - Track your medications, supplements, diet changes, symptoms, illnesses, etc. could help your doctor when he or she is trying to investigate your health or prescribe medications.
8. For new patients: One week prior to your new patient appointment sign a "release of medical records form" a the new office for each doctor that they need to obtain records from. This gives your new doctor a chance to review your case prior to your appointment. Two days prior to your appointment confirm that the new office has received your medical records.

Items To Bring To Your Appointment:

1. Bring completed new patient forms or any forms that you may need to be filled out.
2. Bring medication bottles, creams, misc. to the apointment. Many people are unable to remember the actual medication names, dosages and instructions or the physician that prescribed them.
3. Bring your prioritized list of goals and questions with extra space to write notes and a copy for your physician.
4. Bring a recording device if you prefer to record your visit instead of taking notes.
5. Bring your health journal.
6. Bring test, biopsy, MRI, Xray, lab reports ordered by other physicians if you have them.
7. Bring a friend- Doctors provide a lot of information quickly. It is easy to forget what is said.

Checking Into Your Appointment:

1. Before you leave for an appointment, call to find out if the doctor is running late, or ask the minute you walk in the door. If you are over 15 minutes late the doctor may not be able to see you.
2. When checking in have your insurance card with you and ready to present. You are responsible to know your benefits. If your card has not arrived then get your insurance information before the appointment.
3. If you need forms to be completed, present them at check in so the staff can start to fill them out. It is your job to bring the forms that you need filled out such as workman's comp, disability, etc. There may be an extra charge for the form unless it was the entire reason for your visit. 
4. If you have long forms to be completed by the doctor the staff will give you an estimate of cost and time required to complete. 
5. If you think you may need to have a urinalysis done ask the receptionist if the doctor has requested one. this saves you time by having the results processed before being seen by the doctor. If the doctor has to wait for the results he will see another patient and then return to you. thus causing you to wait for the doctor twice.
6. Pay your copay and schedule your follow-up appointment if applicable while in the waiting room. This will save you time after your appointment.

During Your Appointment:

1. Remember the doctor only has about 8 minutes to assess you needs, examine and provide treatment.
2. Provide the doctor with a copy of your prioritized list of issues and questions.
3. You may ask the doctor if he minds if you record your discussion vs taking notes.
4. Be clear about what you want the doctor to do, such as refer you to a specialist, prescribe a different medication or go over test results. 
5. Be honest about what you think may be causing the problem and don't be embarrassed. Your doctor has seen and heard it all before.
6. Ask the doctor to repeat anything that you don't understand.

Proper Medical Office Etiquette:

1. Talking with the doctor about unrelated issues such as family, pets, latest drama is very expensive and makes other patients wait longer. It is a waste of your appointment time and takes away from the time that the doctor has to focus on your medical issues.
2. Most doctors only have approximately 8 minutes of actual time that they can spend with you. The rest of their time is tied up in administrative duties related to researching, writing scripts, ordering tests and charting.
3. If you are a family member or friend accompanying the patient, do not "steal the spotlight" by asking questions about yourself.
4. Don't ask to have your other child checked out.
5. Don't talk on the cell phone in the waiting or exam room. It is very annoying to others
6. Treat the receptionist, medical assistants and nurses as an extension of the doctor.
7. Every member of the office is committed to providing you with the best care.

These Are The Average Time Goals Of a General Medical Office:

Step                                                                                Time Spent

Patient arrives and checks in: 1  minute

Receptionist verifies insurance and collects copays: 4  minutes

Patient wait in waiting room: 13 minutes

Patient is taken to exam room, vitals and intake are done: 5 minutes

Patient waits in exam room: 7 minutes

Physician examines and treats patient, charts, scripts: 8 minutes

Patient checks out: 3 minutes

Total Cycle Time:  41 minutes

Total time spent waiting: 20 minutes

Total time spent with nurse and or physician: 13 minutes

Total time spent with office administrative duties: 8 minutes