EP: 35 The 5-Minute Prep That Will Change Your Healthcare Experience - Preparing for your Doctor's visit

Ever feel rushed during healthcare appointments or wonder why your provider seems to be playing detective? That's exactly what we're addressing in this episode of The Hand-to-Shoulder Solution.

Healthcare visits are investigations, and your preparation determines how effectively providers can solve your case. When symptoms appear mysterious or treatment results disappoint, the solution often lies in better preparation. I walk you through creating a simple symptom timeline that transforms your provider's understanding - documenting when problems began, whether injuries occurred, and tracking symptom progression. These details might seem minor but provide critical diagnostic clues that guide treatment decisions.

Medical record management represents another crucial preparation area patients overlook. I share practical systems for organizing test results and imaging studies, preventing unnecessary duplications while ensuring continuity between providers. You'll learn why arriving early matters so much (providers review your case before seeing you!) and how insurance verification prevents unpleasant financial surprises.

The difference between feeling rushed through appointments versus receiving comprehensive care often comes down to these simple preparation steps. By implementing these strategies, you transform yourself from a passive healthcare recipient into an active participant in your treatment journey. Try these preparations before your next appointment and experience the difference in your care quality!

Chapters

• 0:00 Welcome and Introduction
• 0:48 Creating a Symptom Timeline
• 1:51 Managing Medical Records
• 3:41 Arrival Time and Insurance Tips
• 5:23 Closing Thoughts

Transcript

Speaker 1: 0:00

Welcome back to the Hand-to-Shoulder Solution Giving Pain the Middle Finger. I'm your host, carl Petito, occupational Therapist and Board-Certified Hand Therapist. I want to talk to you today about being well-prepared for your visit with your healthcare provider. Here's a few points that I would like to go over with you, because it's very important that you get as much as you possibly can out of your visit. And also, you know, as providers, we don't want you to feel rushed, we want you to be well taken care of. We want to get the backstory, we want to know exactly what happened in the recent past, what's going on now and has it been getting worse? Better, the same. So we, you know it's basically it's like an investigation when the patient comes in. We need to get. We, you know we really need to figure it out and get to the bottom of it. So the first thing before your appointment is, I recommend making a brief timeline, write it, jot it down or even at least go over it in your head.

Speaker 1: 0:57

When did the symptoms begin? Was there an injury? Was there no injury? Did it just do your symptoms begin out of the blue, really for no reason? And if there was an injury, what was what we call the mechanism of injury. Can you remember when you fell? Was that an outstretched hand? Did you reach behind you? You know that affects the shoulder differently, affects the wrist differently. You know we start going down a path mentally when the patient is telling their story. And that's what it is. It's the story. We need to. We really need to know the details to best serve you.

Speaker 1: 1:33

And then also, since since your symptoms have begun, have your symptoms getting worse? Are you, have they been getting better? Are they the same, the same? You just kind of feel stuck. It's just no matter what I do, nothing is helping. And basically, what have you been doing? So I usually ask patients have you been doing anything to try to make it feel better? And so, folks, yeah, I try to rub it as often as I can or I try to keep it moving, and it's important for me to understand what maybe can stop so that you're allowed to feel better, what things perhaps you need to do differently. So again, that whole timeline of you, know what have you been doing to try to make it feel better? And where have you been seen in the past? You know I went to this place and then I went to that place and you know that all the information is key because that allows me to know, as a provider, what has been working for you, what has not been working for you. Every person is different and every condition is different, and the same condition and different people are it's always different testing.

Speaker 1: 2:40

So any, any, any x-rays or MRI results, ct scans if that can all be forwarded to our office or any office you're going to, it's ideal to get everything in one place. Anywhere you have a test, ask them to send you the test results. Just keep a binder at home, keep an electronic file on your computer at home and then work with the office you're going to to have that information sent. So it's all in one nice, neat package, all in one place. Again, it's so important for continuity of care and we don't want to repeat tests if it's not necessary. Talk to the office where you're going to be seen, make sure they have everything and see what else that they might need so you can contact any previous places and have it sent over. You know a lot of offices, including our office, will perhaps have you sign a release of information and then get those test results, et cetera for you and have that imported into the office before you show up.

Speaker 1: 3:41

And speaking of showing up, you know, arrive early, at least 10 or 15 minutes early. There's a lot of stuff that goes on behind the scenes, even for follow-up visits, before the patient comes in. I'm looking at previous clinic notes. Okay, how was? How was my person feeling last week when they were in? Oh, they were. They were improved. This helped. You know, that didn't help. This was their. This was their home program. I had them do this last week. I'm refreshing my memory and getting up to speed on your case. Now, if a person shows up 15 minutes late and I have a 30-minute visit scheduled with them, I'm not going to take it away from the next person. Now my person who showed up late, their session is going to be shorter for them. Also along the lines of being. Now my person who showed up late, the session is going to be shorter for them. Also along the lines of being prepared.

Speaker 1: 4:28

Call your insurance company. Look at your insurance card. Look at the phone number on the back. Call that company. They're going to ask you for your insurance policy number. Give them the number. Say look, I need therapy. I'm going in for this. You know such and such happened. What's my coverage? Do I have a copay? Is there a deductible? The health insurance deductible works like a car deductible. So if you have a $500 deductible on your on your vehicle, for example and you get an accident and the accident costs a thousand dollars, the first500 is you're paying for out of pocket. That's the car insurance Works the same way for the health insurance. So really you know, just know the know your insurance limitations ahead of time and really those are really the main points for being prepared for your visit with your healthcare provider. Thanks a lot for watching. I really appreciate you liking and subscribing to the video. Always seek out professional information for any condition that you're dealing with. Thank you.