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At the time of your first appointment, we become your partner in healthcare. Together, we’ll work to ensure your health and wellbeing. We want you to get the most out of your appointments but it’s not about the quantity of time you spend at our office. It’s about the quality of your appointment we spend together. The last thing that we want is for you to get home and have you or a family member realize that you forgot to ask about the headache you’ve had for the last few weeks, the referral that you need for a specialist, the prescription refill that you forgot to request, or any other important health concerns. We’ve listed some pointers that may help you maximize your visit:

 

Before Your Visit

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  1. Let us know about your symptoms or concerns when you book your appointment. It’s a good idea to let us know upfront of any symptoms or concerns so that we may schedule the correct kind of appointment and the appropriate amount of time that we may need to spend with you. Let us know if your appointment is for a follow-up of for an annual physical.

  2. If you know you’re going to be getting bloodwork, ask if you need to fast. Some labwork may need to be completed at the time of your appointment that requires that you fast. Ask us about the timeframes that you need to follow in order to be ready for your labwork.

  3. Know your history. Whether you’re a new or established patient, it’s important for us to have up to date medical records. If you’re a new patient, arrive early to allow time for you to complete the necessary forms. If you prefer, you can even complete and submit your new patient paperwork on line or print out the forms and bring them to your appointment with you.

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During Your Visit

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  1. Bring a list or your medications and test results with you. We recommend making a separate list of all the prescription drugs as well as any over-the-counter medications and herbal medications you may be taking. If it is easier, just bring the pill and vitamin bottles with you in a clear plastic bag. If applicable, also bring copies of any test results such as x-ray or MRI reports. If you have diabetes, bring your blood sugar logs so that we may review them together. If you know you have high blood pressure, we recommend getting a series of readings during the week prior to your visit so we can gauge whether your numbers have spiked during our meeting due to nervous tension.

  2. Bring your most recent insurance card, your ID, and your co-pay. Give us a call or contact your insurance company to make sure that we’re on your insurance plan.

  3. Write down any questions you may have. We strongly suggest that you spend a few minutes prior to your appointment to write down questions or concerns that you have about your health issues. Think of the top 3 to 5 questions you have about your health in order of priority. When meeting with our providers bring up these concerns at the beginning of your appointment, don’t wait until the end.

  4. Don’t be afraid to participate and take an active role in your care. Your well-being depends on your feeling comfortable to share your thoughts and concerns about your health — both physical and emotional concerns. Please don’t be embarrassed by any question, we think open communication is the key to a successful visit.  Some symptoms are difficult to discuss — sexual dysfunction, addictions, hemorrhoids, a rash "down there" — but we want to put you at ease. Your honesty and directness will give us the information we need to better treat you. If you have a more complicated medical issue, and would feel more comfortable having an "appointment buddy" or loved one with you during the appointment; we want to encourage you to do so.  They can help ask questions and give you the support you may need. Ask them to take notes for you, or feel free to jot down some notes of your own when we are talking.

  5. Come with current pharmacy information. Giving us the name and phone number of your pharmacy ahead of time will help us get your medications and refills to you more quickly. Using the 90-day mail order pharmacy can save time and money. You can submit this information to us via the patient portal. Just keep in mind that narcotics cannot be refilled via the portal so you’ll have to come and get a paper prescription to take to your pharmacy every 3 months.

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After Your Visit

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  1. Be sure to follow the directions we give you on scheduling another follow-up appointment, referrals, tests required, or just the day-to-day recommendations that will improve your health. If you have any questions, or don’t completely understand something, feel free to give us a call.

  2. Keep an eye on your and your loved ones’ health. The more informed you are of your health issues the better job we can do assessing your needs and helping you prevent any illnesses.

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