It can be tempting to want to solve every problem possible when you go to the doctor for an annual checkup. However, in conjunction with your healthcare professional, you can formulate a better strategy, rather than a firehose of inquiry, to get the most out of your general wellness visits! Here are 10 questions that you can ask your healthcare provider during your check up to have the best check-up possible.
Curious what wellness looks like with Liberty HealthShare? Explore our Health Scenarios to learn how it works.
With a relationship established with a primary care physician, you likely have had multiple tests and/or screenings that you could inquire about. This is the time to circle back and clear up any confusion from prior appointments!
Perhaps you were prescribed new medication from your last appointment that you’ve been taking for a while. Ask your physician if what you’re experiencing is normal, as well as any guide rails for what you should be expecting.
There are multiple agencies that work to protect and refine public health. Your physician should be aware of the general moves and shakes of the broader healthcare landscape, so now is the time to seek out information and guidance from them about the shifting healthcare panorama.
It may seem obvious that this is the appropriate time to ask this question, but at your primary care physician appointment you should ask your physician about your current health experiences and concerns!
Your physician should always ask about your family health history when providing any health advice. However, you can also take the initiative and bring up family history when considering your healthcare options. Is there a pattern of heart disease in your family tree? Ask about it!
While not the case everywhere, in the United States we often see advertising for medication and treatment systems pertaining to a variety of medical conditions. It’s always good to seek the advice of more knowledge parties when making decisions, and your physician is the perfect person to ask about medications and treatments!
Depending on where you are in life, there are a variety of tests and screenings that may be appropriate for you. Be sure to ask your doctor if there are any of these things that make sense or are necessary for you to get done. In many cases, these can be super impactful and even lifesaving!
When looking ahead, you should ask questions based on what your provider has suggested you do based on the care that you need. It’s always better to ask more questions than you think you need than to walk out of the office and think of all the things you didn’t ask. Ask about what the treatment plan looks like, what preventative measures you should be taking, or what you should be on the lookout for.
After you’ve received a diagnosis, say high-blood pressure, you should ask for more specifics about what it means to live with this condition. What are some red flags you should be on the watch for? What are some of the practical steps you should take to improve your quality of life? Your provider and you are a team to help you live happily and healthily as possible!
Finally, you should always ask if there are things you should be thinking about in advance of your next appointment. Are there notes you need to be taking? Is there anything you need to observe? By preparing ahead of time, you can enter your next appointment better equipped and ready to tackle your healthcare!
Liberty HealthShare encourages members to take advantage of their shareable wellness visits (dependent on program enrollment) to keep track of their health. By making informed decisions and asking excellent questions to their healthcare providers, Liberty HealthShare members make themselves, and their community, healthier!