We know that making a doctor’s appointment today can often be challenging, with wait times sometimes lasting for months. And when you finally get in, appointments, on average, last only about 20 minutes. So, it’s important to be prepared. That’s where we step in. Primary Record can help you make the most out of your appointment – before and after. Let’s do this together.
Preparing for the Visit
The National Institute on Aging, has put together a great video outlining a few tips to help you prepare for doctors’ appointments.
5 Ways to Make the Most of Your Doctor Visit
The recommendations included in the video are as follows:
Before the Visit:
- Make a list and prioritize your concerns
- Take the information with you to the doctor
- Consider bringing a family member or friend to the doctor’s visit
During the Visit:
- Be sure you can see and hear as well as possible
- Request an interpreter if you need one
Before the Visit: Prep Made Easy with Primary Record
The great news? Today we are going to share how Primary Record can make it easier than ever to organize and streamline some of the information the National Institute on Aging suggests you prepare before the visit. Let’s get the most out of those 20 minutes!
- Create a Medical Profile on Primary Record
If you don’t already have one created for the person with the appointment, start here. - Connect and download data from Patient Portal(s)
Managing multiple patient portals? No problem. You can connect and download data from supported portals into Primary Record. Learn how at Primary Record’s Help Center. - Organize the Medical Profile
Once your data is downloaded into Primary Record, you can better organize medicines, conditions, and allergies to ensure they are up to date and accurate. You’ll definitely want to make sure medicines reflect the most current regimen. - Make a List and Prioritize Your Concerns
Make sure the appointment is listed in the ‘Visits’ section on Primary Record. You can add it manually if you don’t see it. This is where you’ll want to include the list of questions and concerns – in the ‘Notes’ section for this appointment. Additionally, the Primary Record Assistant can help you generate a list of recommended questions for the visit based on YOUR health history. - Take Information with you to the doctor
Primary Record has standard reports, created by healthcare professionals, that you can generate before your appointment. Print them out and have them on hand—this is the best way to share your information, like medications. If you can’t print them, there’s a QR code you can share with the nurse.
Now you’re ready to go!
Check back, the next article will share how Primary Record can help you during the visit!