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7 tips to get the most out of your doctor visit

Kristi King | kking@wtop.com

January 12, 2017, 4:34 AM

Dr. Allen Taylor, cardiologist, is pictured doing rounds with hospital fellows and residents. (Photo courtsey, MedStar Washington Hospital Center)
WASHINGTON — Visiting your doctor is not the time to forget something you want to discuss — that’s why making a list of questions is one recommendation from a local health expert. “There’s really an art form to seeing a patient with their own concerns and their own needs in the span of 20 or 30 minutes at most,” said Dr. Allen Taylor, a cardiologist with the MedStar Heart & Vascular Institute. “It can be, truthfully, a challenge to get to know somebody that quickly, read their concerns, access where they are, collect the information that we need and get it all documented and all tied up in that time span.” Taylor believes patients should ask questions, mind the time, bring medications, take notes and be clear on what happens next. Scroll through the slideshow to see Taylor’s top recommendations for getting the most out of a doctor’s visit. (Photo courtesy MedStar Washington Hospital Center)
Photo courtesy MedStar Washington Hospital Center
To prepare for a doctor's visit appropriately, you should know how long it might last. "A patient has to realize that the physician has certain tasks they have to complete," said MedStar Washington Hospital Center cardiologist Dr. Allen Taylor. "Set an agenda so you can prioritize the time," Taylor said. Doctors have to do paperwork, write prescriptions and record documentation in addition to answering a patient's most important questions. "So, having an agenda in mind is very important." (Thinkstock)
To prepare for a doctor’s visit appropriately, you should know how long it might last. “A patient has to realize that the physician has certain tasks they have to complete,” said MedStar Washington Hospital Center cardiologist Dr. Allen Taylor. “Set an agenda so you can prioritize the time,” Taylor said. Doctors have to do paperwork, write prescriptions and record documentation in addition to answering a patient’s most important questions. “So, having an agenda in mind is very important,” he said. (Thinkstock)
Thinkstock
Don't come to an appointment empty handed. Bring a list of questions with the most important questions on top in case you're pressed for time. Also bring relevant records and a list of medications. "Often today patients go between different providers offices and the medications can get very complicated," Taylor said. Each doctor knowing what another is prescribing can help to avoid dangerous interactions. (Thinkstock)
Don’t come to an appointment empty-handed. Bring a list of questions, with the most important questions on top in case you’re pressed for time. And bring relevant records and a list of medications. “Often today, patients go between different providers’ offices and the medications can get very complicated,” Taylor said. Each doctor needs to know what others are prescribing in order to avoid dangerous interactions. (Thinkstock)
Thinkstock
Take notes during your appointment to help remember what's discussed. Also, ask for a printed summary. "Most offices now will generate a printed summary and there's great forms of education in those, Taylor said. "They can tie those to certain health problems that you may have," Taylor said. (Thinkstock)
Take notes during your appointment to help remember what’s discussed. And ask for a printed summary. “Most offices now will generate a printed summary, and there’s great forms of education in those,” Taylor said. “They can tie those to certain health problems that you may have.” (Thinkstock)
Thinkstock
Beyond the visit, you should be clear on what comes next. "What's supposed to happen, when the next appointment supposed to be, what tests are supposed to be done," Taylor said. (Thinkstock)
After the visit, you should be clear on what comes next: “What’s supposed to happen, when the next appointment supposed to be, what tests are supposed to be done,” Taylor said. (Thinkstock)
Thinkstock
Explore options for how to communicate with your health care provider between visits. "As opposed to the traditional -- call the office, leave a message and have to get called back." Taylor said some doctors are very comfortable communicating via secure email or secure text messaging to help with simple questions about care. (Thinkstock)
Explore options for communicating with your health care provider between visits, “as opposed to the traditional — call the office, leave a message and have to get called back.” Taylor said some doctors are very comfortable communicating via secure email or secure text messaging to help with simple questions about care. (Thinkstock)
Thinkstock
Sign up with your health care provider online. "All health records now, under the Affordable Health Care Act have to have a thing called a portal," Taylor explained. "This is a secure way you can communicate with your providers, but also find your information." (Thinkstock)
Sign up with your health care provider online. “All health records now, under the Affordable Health Care Act, have to have a thing called a portal,” Taylor explained. “This is a secure way you can communicate with your providers, but also find your information.” (Thinkstock)
Thinkstock
Don't get flustered if everything doesn't go as planned because you or the doctor are delayed getting to the appointment. "Health care is a little bit like a collage - it takes time to build great health care and a great health care relationship," Taylor observed. "So [if] you can't get it all done in one visit or in one day -- schedule the next visit and then keep building." (Thinkstock)
Don’t get flustered if everything doesn’t go as planned because you or the doctor are delayed getting to the appointment. “Health care is a little bit like a collage — it takes time to build great health care and a great health care relationship,” Taylor observed. “So [if] you can’t get it all done in one visit or in one day — schedule the next visit and then keep building.” (Thinkstock)
Thinkstock
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Dr. Allen Taylor, cardiologist, is pictured doing rounds with hospital fellows and residents. (Photo courtsey, MedStar Washington Hospital Center)
To prepare for a doctor's visit appropriately, you should know how long it might last. "A patient has to realize that the physician has certain tasks they have to complete," said MedStar Washington Hospital Center cardiologist Dr. Allen Taylor. "Set an agenda so you can prioritize the time," Taylor said. Doctors have to do paperwork, write prescriptions and record documentation in addition to answering a patient's most important questions. "So, having an agenda in mind is very important." (Thinkstock)
Don't come to an appointment empty handed. Bring a list of questions with the most important questions on top in case you're pressed for time. Also bring relevant records and a list of medications. "Often today patients go between different providers offices and the medications can get very complicated," Taylor said. Each doctor knowing what another is prescribing can help to avoid dangerous interactions. (Thinkstock)
Take notes during your appointment to help remember what's discussed. Also, ask for a printed summary. "Most offices now will generate a printed summary and there's great forms of education in those, Taylor said. "They can tie those to certain health problems that you may have," Taylor said. (Thinkstock)
Beyond the visit, you should be clear on what comes next. "What's supposed to happen, when the next appointment supposed to be, what tests are supposed to be done," Taylor said. (Thinkstock)
Explore options for how to communicate with your health care provider between visits. "As opposed to the traditional -- call the office, leave a message and have to get called back." Taylor said some doctors are very comfortable communicating via secure email or secure text messaging to help with simple questions about care. (Thinkstock)
Sign up with your health care provider online. "All health records now, under the Affordable Health Care Act have to have a thing called a portal," Taylor explained. "This is a secure way you can communicate with your providers, but also find your information." (Thinkstock)
Don't get flustered if everything doesn't go as planned because you or the doctor are delayed getting to the appointment. "Health care is a little bit like a collage - it takes time to build great health care and a great health care relationship," Taylor observed. "So [if] you can't get it all done in one visit or in one day -- schedule the next visit and then keep building." (Thinkstock)

WASHINGTON — Visiting your doctor is not the time to forget something you want to discuss.  That’s why making a list of questions is one recommendation from a local health expert.

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“There’s really an art form to seeing a patient with their own concerns and their own needs in the span of 20 or 30 minutes at most,” said Dr. Allen Taylor, a cardiologist with the MedStar Heart & Vascular Institute.

“It can be, truthfully, a challenge to get to know somebody that quickly, read their concerns, access where they are, collect the information that we need and get it all documented and all tied up in that time span.”

Taylor believes patients should ask questions, mind the time, bring medications, take notes and be clear on what happens next. The slideshow above details Taylor’s highest recommendations for getting the most out of a doctor’s visit.

Kristi King

Kristi King is a veteran reporter who has been working in the WTOP newsroom since 1990. She covers everything from breaking news to consumer concerns and the latest medical developments.

kking@wtop.com

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