Sophie Okolo, MPH

Seeing a new doctor for the first time can make you a little nervous. You can never be certain how they’re going to treat you, and some people have had poor experiences with doctors. If you’re a young adult, it might be the first time you’ve been to see a doctor on your own and had to arrange everything yourself. When you see a doctor for the first time, it’s your chance to assess them and make sure they’re a good fit for you. There are certain things that the doctor should do so they can get to know you as a patient.

Listen to Questions and Concerns

It’s a good idea to think about any questions and concerns that you have before you go to any appointment with a new doctor. There might be a key reason you’ve made an appointment, but perhaps you have some more general questions about how the doctor can help you or their approach to medicine. When you’re seeing a doctor for the first time, they should be willing to listen to your questions and concerns. If they can’t answer your questions, they might not be the right doctor for you. Of course, they should be willing to listen to you during subsequent visits too.

Take a Medical History

When you go to a new doctor, taking important information about your health is important. Many people who see a medical malpractice attorney do so because their doctor failed to take a full medical history and it led to delayed diagnosis. You might want to write down some important details that you want to share with the doctor and that you think are relevant. That could include your family history, any medical problems you currently have or have had in the past, and any medication that you take. Your doctor should make sure to take a medical history so that they’re aware of any potential issues.

Allow You to Have Someone Accompany You

You can feel more comfortable seeing a new doctor if you take someone you trust with you. It could be a friend or family member who can make sure you understand everything or who can simply be there for you. Some people might benefit from having an interpreter with them if they don’t speak English well or use sign language. Doctors should allow you to have someone accompany you if that’s what you want.

Give You Time

One thing that you don’t want when you see a doctor is to feel like you’re being rushed through the appointment. You want to have the time needed to get to know the doctor and discuss any concerns that you might have. A good doctor should allow you the time to talk and ask questions, without rushing you out of their office. Of course, they can’t make every consultation last forever, but they should be able to give you more than five minutes of their time.

Before seeing a new doctor for the first time, think about what you want from them and how you hope they can help you.