Aligning your goals for visiting a doctor with the doctor’s goals for your appointment will help make the most out of every appointment.
Know what type of appointment you need. Common appointment types include new patient, annual wellness, follow up, pre operative consultation, and procedure.
New patient appointments may take longer as the doctor will take time to learn your history and get to know you.
Annual wellness appointments may also be called yearly check ups, health maintenance visits, annual physical, among others.
Follow up appointments may include a follow up after an illness, a regular follow up and check for maintenance of diseases, or a follow up from a procedure like stitches or a cast.
Often when preparing for surgery it is required to be screened to make sure a patient is healthy enough for the surgery. This is done in a pre op consultation appointment.
Procedure appointments are scheduled to focus on specific procedures that can be done in the office. Common examples include wart removal, removal of a toe nail, etc.
Appointment types allow the office to schedule the appropriate amount of time, as well as know appropriate coding and billing.
When scheduling an appointment, understanding the type of appointment you need can be helpful to make sure you get what you need out of your appointment.
Being as specific as possible when scheduling will also help to prepare the office staff and doctor to better serve you in your appointment. If you have issues that arise prior to your appointment that you would like to discuss in addition to what you have already scheduled for, it is sometimes helpful to contact the office to let them know. You can say that the reason for your appointment is private if is of a more personal nature.
Understanding your provider’s office procedures for scheduling and communication can be helpful in getting the most out of your experience with that office.
Working with your provider and the provider’s office, you can have more positive experiences and maintain a common agenda for your visits.
