What should I bring to the doctor? It’s a question that is rarely asked. Being prepared for your doctor’s visit will help you and your doctor get the most out of your time together. Over the years I have realized there are critical things that you should bring with you to the doctor’s office. These are the 7 most important things to bring to your doctor’s appointment in 2021:

1. Your Medications

Bring them all. It’s important that your doctor knows exactly what you are taking. Although we typically keep an accurate list in our charts, you may have new over-the-counter medications or a new prescription from another doctor that we don’t know about.

2. Medical Records

I’m not suggesting that you bring in a backpack full of papers from the past 20 years. In fact some doctors will find that very overwhelming when they are meeting you for the first time. But a few medical records can be very helpful. For example, if you have ever had a coronary artery stent put in, then you were likely given a card with the stent’s brand name, location and the date of the procedure. Or if you have ever had an intrauterine device put in, then you were likely given a similar card. Bringing these cards is very helpful. Things like your vaccination record, your allergy list, and imaging or procedural reports are all high value records that will help us take care of you. Consider bringing your COVID vaccination card so we can keep your vaccine record accurate.

3. Journals/Logs

If you have been keeping a diet diary or journal of your symptoms, then it would be really helpful for us to be able to see that. If you have BP or glucose logs at home then bring those so we can review them together. In a busy clinic, it’s easy to forget to mention details about your symptoms or forget questions you wanted to ask. The best thing to do is write then down ahead of time.

4. Someone Else

This one may seem strange, but bringing someone you trust to the doctor can be very helpful. Having another person with you can provide your doctor with another perspective on your symptoms. Oftentimes a loved one will remember something important to mention that you may have otherwise forgotten. If you need to receive any sedating medications while at the office, then that person can drive you home. For a few months, in the beginning of the pandemic, most medical facilities were not allowing visitors to accompany patients in order to decrease exposure risks. However most emergency rooms and doctor’s offices have lifted these restrictions now, so you can bring your loved ones with you again.

5. Pictures

A picture is worth a thousand words, right? This is much easier to have available now that almost everyone has a smartphone. Pictures of a rash or swelling or other abnormalities are very helpful. Especially if the appearance has changed over time. If I can tell from a picture that your symptoms are worsening instead of improving, then I know that your treatment should be accelerated. Now that a lot of care is virtual, pictures more helpful now than ever. I have had patients send my picture of their swollen tonsils, eye abnormalities pictures of urine and stool (seriously) which is all incredibly helpful to diagnose and treat them when we are working virtually.

6. Your Tools

We rely on lots of home tools to help us take care of patients now. If you are using a blood pressure cuff to check your blood pressure at home or if you are using a glucometer to check your blood sugar, bring these with you. This is especially important if there are discrepancies between readings you are getting at home and readings that we are getting at the office. While you are in the office we can test your equipment to ensure that it is calibrated correctly. Blood pressure cuffs, for example, can lose their accuracy after only a year or two. I get patients in the office all the time for elevated blood pressure on their home cuff, only to find that their pressure is totally fine when checked in our office .

7. Notepad

Taking notes at your doctor’s office can help you remember what was discussed. A recent study in 2018 reported that patients accurately remember 49% of the information they receive at the doctor’s office. As a physician I was rather shocked to read this. I can just imagine what kind of harm can come from someone only taking half of the instructions I give them. As a family member of patients, this does not surprise me. I have had relatives recap their doctor’s visit with me before. It can be like a scary game of telephone. It would have been very helpful to be able to review some notes that they took during the visit. If you find yourself at the doctor’s office and don’t have anything to write with, ask the doctor to write out a summary for you to take home so that you can review their recommendations later.

I know that this list is not extensive, but this is a good list of things to consider bringing with you when you go to your doctor. As a Wise Patient I want you to be as prepared as you can be for your visit.

Interested in other ways to prepare for your doctor’s visit? Check out all of my articles in the Visit Preparation category.