If you have a doctor’s visit coming up, you may be wondering what can you do to prepare so you can have the most effective and efficient appointment. From setting a goal for the appointment to gathering and sharing your information to building a list of questions, we’ve broken down the appointment preparation process step-by-step so you can feel empowered sitting in the waiting room.

You finally have a diagnosis, and now the work begins to get your symptoms under better control. Managing a health condition often includes a combination of medications, procedures, follow up appointments, test monitoring, alternative therapies, and lifestyle changes. Every patient is different, so you’ll need to work closely with your care team to find a treatment approach that works best for you. With the potential of a lot of new information heading your way, coming prepared to an appointment with a list of questions can help you feel empowered in your ability to manage your disease.

When you aren’t feeling well, but have yet to receive a formal diagnosis, it can be a very overwhelming time. You may be seeing a lot of different doctors and/or having a lot of tests performed. Your care team are your partners during this time of confusion, and building a report of strong communication can make a huge difference in your experience as a patient. By asking questions, you highlight to your doctor what is important to you, and ensure you both are on the same page. Being proactive enables you to understand the meanings of complicated medical terms or gain clarity on certain instructions.

Whether you are looking to find a diagnosis or treat an existing health condition, your symptoms provide the clues that tell your story. As a patient, you are in the unique position to be the expert on what your symptoms feel like and what your body is telling you. Some symptoms are “invisible” to the outward eye, so ensuring you track your symptoms and share them with your doctor could make the difference in getting you to the correct diagnosis and treatment sooner.

At one point or another, everyone is likely to need a copy of their medical records. Perhaps you need to send information to your new doctor. Maybe you want to share your health information with caregivers. If you are dealing with a complicated diagnostic or treatment process, you might want to share your records to help with coordination of care across several practitioners or to ensure you don’t repeat any tests or procedures.

While gathering and sharing your records can be a tedious process, applying the following tips can make it much easier.

Slightly different from your Health Story, that we discussed in Part 2 of this series, your medical history gives your doctor a complete historical account of your health. Your complete medical history will include: a list of your conditions/diagnoses; a list of medications; list of previous surgeries; a list of previous hospitalizations; a list of immunizations; a list of allergies; doctor visit summaries and notes; hospital discharge summaries; test results; a social health history; and a family health history.

While your doctor will receive the majority of this information when you share your medical records with their office – to be discussed in the next part of this series – it is still important, as a patient, to: 1) understand the importance of your medical history as a part of your overall medical journey, and 2) identify any errors or additions in your medical history.

When visiting a doctor, every minute counts in ensuring you leave the appointment satisfied. With the average length of a primary care appointment lasting just 18 minutes – and the average length of a specialist appointment lasting only a bit longer – as a patient you have limited time to share your story with your doctor, and what and how you tell that story can make a difference in your care.

So what can you do ahead of your appointment to make the most of those 18 minutes? With our tips below, you’ll be more than prepared when the doctor asks you, “what brings you in today?”

As a patient, it can be challenging to speak up in an appointment. You may sense time pressure from short appointment times. You may be hesitant to raise uncomfortable questions. You may not know how to prioritize your concerns.

But – with some quick preparation prior to your appointment – you can set the tone for your appointment experience and make sure you leave satisfied. It all lies in creating an agenda.