Improve Outcomes with Better Visit Preparation
How to Get the Most Out of Your Doctor’s Visit
A guide for patients, a tool for patient advocates
A doctor’s visit can be more satisfying—and lead to better health outcomes—if you prepare ahead of time.
The average length of a doctor’s visit is 17.4 minutes1—18 minutes if you're lucky2. That time goes fast, especially if your doctor spends part of it focused on a computer screen. But coming in with a clear plan can make a big difference.
Step 1: Know Why You’re Going
Start by asking yourself: Why am I going to the doctor?
Try to answer in one clear sentence:
“To follow up on recent lab results.”
“To talk about a new symptom I’m having.”
“To explore other treatment options.”
“To request a particular kind of test or examination.”
Knowing your purpose helps you and your doctor stay focused.
Step 2: Help Your Doctor Help You
Doctors are trained to look for patterns—clues that help them diagnose and treat. If you give them the right information, they can help you more effectively.
Keep a Symptom Log
Create a brief log before your visit. Include:
- What the symptom is
- When it started
- How often it occurs (Is it constant, occasional, mornings only?)
- How intense it is (Use a 1–10 pain scale or describe as mild/moderate/severe)
- What helps or worsens it
- What treatments you’ve tried—and if they worked
Doing this ahead of time prevents you from scrambling to answer on the spot. That saves precious time and gives you space to ask the questions that matter to you.
Step 3: Bring an Updated Medication List
Even if your medications are listed in your patient portal, review them for accuracy before your visit. Your doctor will want to know:
- Name of the medication
- Dosage (e.g., 5 mg, 100 mcg)
- Reason you're taking it
- If it’s helping
- When you started or stopped it
- When and how you take it (morning, with food, before bed, etc.)
This list helps prevent medication errors and ensures you're both on the same page.
Step 4: Share Changes in Your Daily Life
Doctors don’t just treat symptoms—they treat you. It helps to share what’s changed:
- Have your daily activities changed? Why?
- Are you more isolated or spending more time alone?
- How are you feeling about your health—good, bad, or unsure?
- How has your mood been?
These clues offer insight into your quality of life, which is just as important as your lab results.
Step 5: Write Down Your Questions
This is a big one. Before your visit, write down the questions you want answered.
Why this matters:
- It helps you clarify what you want to know and why.
- It reminds you to speak up during your visit. Many people walk out of the office realizing they forgot to ask something important. Writing questions down keeps you accountable.
One Final Tip
Whether you jot notes on paper or type them into your patient portal, organizing your thoughts in advance helps your doctor do their job better—and gives you a stronger voice in your care.
Better preparation leads to better communication, and that leads to better care.
You’ve got this.
– Jim