Take Control of Your Visit: Why a a pre visit checklist is Essential
By Glenn Gilbert, Patient Experience Officer
Many Veterans leave the doctor's office and immediately feel a sense of regret: "I forgot to ask about my headache!" or "I completely blanked on the new medication I wanted to discuss!" This phenomenon is extremely common.
When you are sitting in an exam room, often feeling rushed or nervous, it’s easy for your carefully prepared mental list of questions to vanish. The Patient Experience Pre Visit checklist, enable's you maximize your visit with your provider.
The environment of a medical appointment—often referred to as the "white coat effect"—creates pressure. Appointments are timed, doctors are efficient, and your attention is naturally focused on the interaction and the results they are sharing. Relying solely on memory is risky, but a simple, a written list puts you back in control of the conversation.
1. Start Early and Keep it Handy
Don't wait until the night before. Start your list the moment you book the appointment. Use a dedicated space—a small notebook, a note-taking app on your phone, or a piece of paper taped to your refrigerator. This allows you to add items as they occur to you over days or weeks.
2. Be Specific, Not Vague
When writing down a symptom or concern, include the Who, What, When, and Where details.
• Vague: "I have chest pain."
• Specific: "Chest Pain: A sharp pressure, happens only when I climb stairs, lasts about 30 seconds, and goes away when I rest."
The more specific you are, the faster your doctor can narrow down a diagnosis.
3. Prioritize Your Concerns
Put your two or three most critical, urgent, or worrisome items at the very top. This ensures that even if the appointment runs short, the most important topics are addressed first. You can let the doctor know, "I have four things I want to discuss, starting with the pain in my knee."
4. Include Medication Details
If you have questions about side effects, dosage, or interactions with supplements, write down the exact names and doses of every drug or vitamin in question.
A prepared list transforms your doctor's visit from a passive conversation into a focused, collaborative discussion. It demonstrates that you are an engaged partner in your own healthcare, making the best possible use of your limited appointment time.