What Should I Bring to a Doctor’s Appointment?

Family Care articles are not a substitute for medical or legal advice from a licensed professional.

In a 2021 report, U.S. News reported that nearly one-third of American senior citizens see at least five different doctors each year. In an ideal world, the patient’s primary care provider would coordinate all of this different specialist care. Unfortunately, these doctors don’t always communicate with each other at the level necessary to ensure care is consistent across all providers. This can be frustrating and, in some cases, outright dangerous for patients. 

In some cases, your home healthcare team can act as an advocate for your healthcare. They can speak to physicians to help coordinate your care, and provide a more attentive level of care. It is definitely a good idea to ask if that’s a possibility. In the event that you’d like to manage your care yourself, or manage the care of a loved one, this article provides a list of the information that should be brought to doctors’ appointments. Having this information ready to talk about can help keep visits on track. 

1. Insurance Information

A new doctor’s office should request your insurance information in order for you to complete an appointment. If your coverage changes, or if you select a new plan, you should bring that new information with you to update your patient record. 

If you have Medicare coverage and a secondary insurance plan, you should bring the information for both plans. 

2. Changes in a Senior’s Habits, Attitude, or Memory

Changes in behaviors can be a sign of several underlying conditions for seniors. For example, increased agitation or confusion can be a sign of an untreated urinary tract infection. If a patient hasn’t been diagnosed with dementia, but is experiencing symptoms, this information can prompt a doctor to run further tests to see if there is an underlying condition. It can also prompt them to begin dementia screenings. 

For patients who have been diagnosed with a form of dementia, keeping track of changes in symptoms, like worsening mood or forgetfulness, can be very helpful. Doctors can use this information to increase or change medication dosages, suggest changes to a patient’s routine, or suggest more regular care or supervision. 

3. Current and Past Medications

Often, seniors will take medications prescribed by multiple doctors, at the same time. Bringing a list of medications to any doctors’ appointments can help ensure a doctor won’t prescribe a medication that will have a negative interaction with something else the patient is taking.

This list of medications should include any over-the-counter medications the patient is taking, especially painkillers, which may have negative reactions with prescription medications, or complicate existing medical conditions. 

A list of past medications is also important—that way, doctors can see what has or hasn’t worked previously. You can also inform them of negative side effects caused by a drug, so they know not to begin that regimen again. 

4. A List of Major Health Updates

If you’ve had a recent surgery, been put on a special diet, or had a negative reaction to a medication, the doctor should know. Unfortunately, the older we get, the more physicians we need to see. They don’t always communicate with each other. 

5. A Place to Take Notes

This is a must, especially if there’s a lot of doctors’ appointments on your schedule! It’s a great way to keep track of a doctor’s recommendations, timelines for treatments, and other information important to your care. If you are a caregiver who shares caregiving responsibilities with another friend or family member, this is a great way to keep everyone on the same page. It’s also a great way to keep a home healthcare team informed about updates to their patient’s care.