Making the Most of Your Physician Visit

with Evelyn Burdick, MD, Family Physician, Columbia St. Mary’s

Posted: June 1, 2005

Your health is one of your most important assets, so visiting your physician isn’t a task to neglect or take lightly. Whether you’re there for your regular physical exam, or experiencing some unusual symptoms, or seeing the physician for the first time, it’s a good idea to give that visit some advance thought, according to Dr. Evelyn Burdick, a family physician with Columbia St. Mary’s.

Dr. Burdick offers some pointers on how to make the most of that visit.

“If it’s your first visit to that clinic or with that physician, be ready to provide your medical history,” she said. That includes information about diseases that run in your family, your current and past health problems and treatments.

Evelyn Burdick, MD, Family Physician, Columbia St. Mary’s "When talking with your doctor, be sure to share anything and everything about your concerns."

Know your medications

Also at that visit, provide a complete list of any prescription and over-the-counter medications, herbs, supplements and vitamins you’re taking.

“Ideally, bring in the original containers,” she added. “That way they can double-check the medications you’ve gotten from other doctors and review the refill instructions. Medications might interfere with each other or because many medications have a brand name and a generic name you may not realize you’re taking duplicates. It’s very important to guard against interactions of the various medications.”

It’s helpful to request your medical records from your previous physician well ahead of a new physician appointment.

“You should know what you want to discuss when your are face-to-face with your physician, so bringing a list of questions and a short description of your health problems will help you better communicate your concerns. But keep in mind that during a typical visit, the physician can address one or two serious complaints and several minor complaints. If you have more to discuss, you can expect to come back for another visit. The information you give during your initial visit can possibly lead to additional tests at a later date,” she said.

When phoning to make your appointment, you should provide the receptionist with some general information regarding the purpose of your appointment according to Dr. Burdick. “That will give the office staff an idea of how much time the visit should take or how soon the appointment should be made. Is your visit just for a medication refill? Is it for a new symptom? Is it urgent, i.e., a sinus infection, or pain that seems serious?”

If you’re a new patient, she suggests arriving for the appointment early enough to allow time to fill out a medical history form and having information handy for that form, such as dates of surgery, possible allergies to medication, etc.

Time to talk

“When talking with your doctor, be sure to communicate anything and everything about your concerns. Make sure you’re up front and say what troubles you,” she emphasized.

Communication is a two-way street, Dr. Burdick said. “When the doctor is explaining your diagnosis, make sure you understand exactly what is being said. Some doctors have a tendency to use medical jargon that’s not easily understandable, so don’t be ashamed to admit that you don’t understand and be sure to ask for an explanation in terms that are easier to understand. If patients don’t understand what the physician is saying, it’s very hard for them to comply with instructions for their care.”

Dr. Burdick said it’s a good idea for an elderly patient to bring a family member with them during the visit. “Physicians want to respect a patient’s desire for privacy, but a patient with memory or hearing problems should have a family member present to help interpret or reinforce the doctor’s comments and instructions.”

At the end of the visit, patients should make sure they’ve got instructions for the next step in their medical care, or new prescriptions or refills. They should also make sure that they have scheduled a follow-up visit if needed.

Evelyn Burdick, MD
Family Physician
Shorewood Family Physicians
1901 E. Capitol Drive
Shorewood, WI 53211
414-962-7477

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