It is important to take an active role in your health care with your primary care provider. This will enhance the quality of your care and ensure you are on the same page.
Consider these tips to get the most out of your time together.
Before Your Appointment
Prepare your questions: write down any questions or concerns you have beforehand. This helps you remember everything you want to discuss and prioritize the most important issues.
You may decide to write a list of concerns you wish to discuss with your provider. From a list, your provider will discuss with you what can and cannot be addressed during the allotted time of your visit.
Please remember that a typical physician visit is 15 minutes in length and nurse practitioner visit is 30 minutes in length.
Update your family’s medical history: your family’s medical history can provide useful insight on your risk for certain diseases or conditions, such as cancer, stroke or heart disease.
Share any NEW health issues in your family. You can update your family's medical history during a Preventive Health Visit.
Be on time: arrive 5-10 minutes early to complete any screening questions or paperwork.
During Your Appointment
Be honest when sharing relevant health information: some topics are sensitive, but they are still important. These include depression, anxiety, sexual dysfunction, financial instability, abuse.
Please disclose whether you smoke, vape, or use cannabis or other drugs, as well as your alcohol consumption.
Stay focused: ensure you focus on one concern at a time and prioritize the most important issues. It is also important to know that not all your concerns can be addressed in a single appointment, health concerns take time to explore. You may need to book multiple visits to address all your concerns.
Ask for clarification: if you do not understand something, ask for an explanation. It is very important that you understand your health and treatment plan.
Take Notes: write down important information and instructions from your primary care provider.
After Your Appointment
Follow-up: make sure you book any necessary follow-up appointments. Ensure you follow through with the treatment plan you and your primary care provider discussed.
Monitor your health: keep track of any changes in your symptoms or side effects from medications. If you start to feel worse or if you have problems with your medications, book a follow-up appointment with your primary care provider.
Click here, for a Pre-Appointment Checklist.
Revised April 11, 2025