10 tips for your next doctor’s appointment

Keeping good medical records for your family is one simple and possibly life-saving thing you can do to avoid medical mix-ups such as allergic reactions to medications. By keeping your own up-to-date records of your family health history, illnesses, medications, immunizations, etc., other members of the family or caregivers can refer to it when there is a need to know on-the-spot information to assist in diagnosis or treatment.

10 simple things you should do each time you visit the doctor:

1. Know your family medical history. Ask your parents and your in-laws about their medical history and keep good records. Look at your past notes about medications, allergies, growth and development to refresh your memory.

2. Do your homework first. Know what immunizations your children might be due for. Read about children’s health issues of concern through a reliable website or book. Talk to friends – you’ll be amazed how many people have “a friend’s neighbor’s sister” who had a similar medical condition that you can learn from. Know what options you have.

3. Write down your questions in advance of your appointment. Start thinking about an upcoming appointment about 1-2 weeks prior to the date. As you go about your day, think of a question you want to ask and simply write it down. This way you are prepared and can have a more successful partnership with your doctor.

4. Listen to your children. Watch for changes in behavior or complaints of pain, strange feelings, or any other unusual changes.

5. Take good notes during and afterwards. Write down what the doctor says. When you get home, do a mental checklist of what you spoke about and make sure you wrote it all down. As weeks and months pass, your memory of what was said fades and keeping notes will jog your memory.

6. Know where your health and immunization cards are! Keep them together with your medical records at all times. You don’t want to show up without them or worse – be frantically searching for them in an emergency.

7. Plan to have a long wait. You never know how long it will be before your doctor sees you, especially if they get called out for an unexpected emergency. If you have small kids, bring snacks, beverages, books, and toys. It’s safer for kids to play with their own toys and not with the ones in your doctor’s office.

8. Medications 101 – ask about possible side effects and watch for them. Phone your doctor and/or the pharmacist in the event of a strange reaction and read that handy insert that many pharmacies now give you about the medication you are taking. Keep it with your medical records for future reference and write down what the doctor prescribed.

9. Keep your important phone numbers handy.

10. Make sure your spouse/partner knows what’s going on. Share your detailed notes and medical information with your partner, especially if it’s possible that they will have to take a family member to an appointment. That way, if they do have to take the kids in a pinch, they have all the information they need at their fingertips.

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