Some tips for a successful annual exam
In the doctor’s office, you deserve to be heard and have every one of your questions answered. But when appointments fly by in a flash, that can be easier said than done. Here’s how to make your next checkup the most successful one yet.
Ever left an appointment with your doctor feeling confused about the next steps you should take or wishing you’d brought something else up? You’re not alone.
“A lot needs to happen in our short time together,” says Robert F. Raspa, M.D., a family physician and faculty member with St. Vincent’s Family Medical Center in Jacksonville, Fla., noting that the average time a doctor spends with a patient is 22 minutes. “I want to set an agenda and, as quickly as possible, get to the root of your concern.”
Of course, as Dr. Raspa notes, it’s common to not exactly want to be in the sterile environment of a doctor’s office, especially if you’re not feeling well. But if you come to the appointment prepared with questions and a game plan, you’re far more likely to exit the office with a better understanding of your health and what to do next.
Also, don’t forget to discuss screenings you may be due to receive. Depending upon your age, current health condition(s), or if you have a family history of certain cancers or conditions, you may be eligible to receive colorectal, prostate, breast or cervical cancer screening under your preventive health benefits.
Use these strategies to make the most of any checkup with your physician.
Strategy #1: Prioritize
Write down your top concerns and questions before your appointment and show it to the doctor first thing. “Letting me see your list will help me prioritize our time together,” says Dr. Raspa. It also means you’re less likely to forget to mention something — whether it’s a question you wanted to ask or something you wanted to have checked out.
Strategy #2: Rehearse
“Many of my older patients take a long time to give me the background of their concern,” says Dr. Raspa. “I don’t say that to be critical — it’s just how older generations process and share information.” While he says he often enjoys the stories, he emphasizes that the best way to maximize your time with the doctor is to lead off with the vitals — where it hurts, when it hurts, how long the pain lasts, and how it’s affecting your daily life. At home, practice describing your concern in a way that focuses on those key bits of information.
Strategy #3: Speak up!
Don’t be afraid to bring up sensitive topics with your doctor. It may feel like a blow to your ego to admit that your muscles are feeling weaker or that you fell at home, but those are issues that your doctor wants to hear about and help you with, says Dr. Raspa. The same goes with any change in your sexual health or issues such as incontinence or constipation. “Those topics are never fun to talk about,” he says, “but we’ve heard it all before. You won’t shock us.”
Strategy #4: Bring a friend
Bright lights, a cold exam room, a flimsy gown, medical jargon — it can all add up to an awkward and sometimes confusing experience. Ask a trusted family member or friend to come with you and give them a task (be sure to check with your provider first, as guidelines about guests have changed since 2019). “The best thing your loved one can do is take notes for you,” Dr. Raspa says. “Give them permission ahead of time to speak up and ask questions. Doctors often won’t ask you if you understand because you’re sitting there nodding as if you do. So, many times, it’s the partner who’ll inquire about the tests I’m ordering or who’ll ask for details about the medication I’m prescribing.”
