Primary care is necessary to ensure that you and your family are maintaining peak overall health. Whenever you go to visit your nearby primary care provider, it helps to adequate prepare for your visit.
Preparing for your primary visit includes sharing critical healthcare information with your provider during the visit. Additionally, you’ll want to have a record or set of notes for any types of healthcare updates since your last visit.
So what types of information should you have on you before your primary care visit? Why does this information help providers create the best possible healthcare outcomes?
Come into any appointment with recent medical information or updates
The first thing your primary care provider will need before they can administer care is to first have all of your pertinent health information available. With all your medical information in front of your provider, they can help identify any current health ailments you are monitoring and check if everything is under control.
Additionally, your primary care provider will also want to review any medications and prescriptions to make sure that you are maintaining proper medication adherence. Primary physicians can also help patients that may be struggling to take any current medications with recommendations and lifestyle guidelines. Other types of medical information your physician may need includes recent injuries, changes in mood or stress, dietary habits, weight, and similar health-related information.
Double check your insurance carrier before scheduling an appointment
Whenever you decide to visit your doctor’s office you’ll want to double check if they accept your current insurance provider. Try and speak with the office’s billing department or a similar support option whenever you need to schedule primary care. Additionally, it always helps to find a primary care provider that accepts multiple insurance types including Medicaid-sponsored health plans.
Some doctors may not have your insurance so it helps to double-check before each appointment. For example, at any Instant Urgent Care location a patient usually only has to pay a few co-pays in order to get the care that they need.
Ask plenty of questions before any during your visit
Primary care services range from a variety of preventive care services to ensure that you are maintaining peak overall health. While your doctor is specially trained to provide and refer you to needed medical appointments, you’ll need to also ask questions to make sure you are getting the maximum benefits of your medical care.
A sample of the best questions to ask your provider include:
- How do you contact your office for further health questions
- What should I know about my prescription side effects/management
- How far in advance do you normally take appointments
- Where is a good alternative for urgent care or emergency care?
By preparing for your primary care visit, you will be the one in control of your medical situation and ensure your care is the best quality!