Three Tips for Your Next PCP Visit

With a new year right around the corner, some people have an annual physical on their radar. Even if you are not thinking about your physical, the holidays are a time when people are getting together and spreading germs as well as good cheer. Regardless of the reason for seeing a provider, there’s a great amount of information to review in a short amount of time; and, people may forget to ask a question, raise a concern or get further information about something important.

Healthcare providers do everything possible to ensure that patients have positive experiences, but there are also some things that patients can do to make sure they get the most out of every appointment.

Establish your goals.

“One of the best ways to prepare for a visit with your provider is to identify what you want to get out of your appointment,” said Andrew O’Donnell, DO, a Family Medicine physician with Penn Highlands Family Medicine. “When you identify your goals and share them with your provider, it helps to ensure that all of your concerns are addressed before you leave the appointment.”

If you are visiting a provider for an annual physical, you may want to consider:

• What were your health concerns during the previous year?

• Are you experiencing any new symptoms that you want to address?

• Do you want to make improvements to your health, such as diet, exercise or smoking cessation?

• Are you experiencing anxiety or depression?

If your appointment is for a chronic condition, you may want to think about some of the considerations below:

• Is your current treatment plan still effective?

• Do you want to learn about alternatives to your treatment?

• Do you want to talk about side effects that you may be experiencing?

• Do you have questions that have not been answered?

Make a List.

It helps to write down your goals and concerns. You may forget to bring something up once you actually sit down with your healthcare provider. A list, whether it’s on paper or on your phone, will help you remember what you want to talk about.

After you make a list, pick the three most important things and put them at the top. There may simply not be enough time during one appointment to address everything, so you’ll want to bring up the most important topics first. If there’s still time after addressing the most important issues, you can move down your list to the next concern.

Focus on communication.

“At the beginning of your appointment, have an open discussion with your provider regarding your concerns and ask them what they want to address,” said Dr. O’Donnell. “Your provider may want to discuss something that you haven’t considered based on your age or family history, and open communication is critical to making sure everyone’s concerns are covered.”

If time is running out and you haven’t addressed one of your most important concerns, be sure to bring it up again. If you haven’t received an answer to a question, if you don’t clearly understand something or if you don’t have a clear plan of action, bring those up too. Use your paper list or your phone to take notes so that you can review everything when you get home. You can even use your phone to record your conversation so that you don’t miss anything.

“Clear communication is one of the keys to great healthcare,” said Dr. O’Donnell. “Patients should not be reluctant to ask questions -- especially at the doctor’s office. Your health is just as important to us as it is to you.”

Penn Highlands Healthcare offers comprehensive family medicine at locations throughout Pennsylvania. Many family medicine providers are accepting new patients so that you can begin the journey of developing a relationship focused on you and your health. For more information or to find a provider near you, visit www.phhealthcare.org/findadoc.