How to advocate for yourself at the doctor's office

You have rights as a patient to make sure you’re getting the best medical care and outcomes possible. But to really take advantage of your patient rights in healthcare and get the most out of your doctor’s appointment, you should know how to advocate for yourself and your health.

Advocating for your health means equipping yourself and your doctor with the information you need to plan your next steps. Here are some tips on what to say to your doctor about your symptoms and how to ask smart health questions, ensuring you’re getting the best follow-up care.

• What your symptoms are
• Where your symptoms are primarily located (where in your body is the pain stemming from?)
• When you began experiencing symptoms, including sudden weight gain or loss
• How disruptive these symptoms are to your life (how are these symptoms preventing you from doing your normal routine?)
• How you would describe your pain on a scale of 1-10, with 1 being no pain and 10 being the worst pain possible
• Any health, dietary, activity, or environmental changes that coincide with the beginning of your symptoms

Don’t overlook how changes in your diet, activity, or environment may be connected with your new symptoms. This is more common than you might think. An updated exercise routine may be causing an unexplained pain, or a new favorite food could be causing gut issues. Even a new environment like moving homes or apartments can unlock allergic reactions you haven’t experienced before. These details may not seem relevant to you, but they may be important for your doctor to know.

You should also make sure your doctor has all of your updated medical records. Just call any of your previous doctors’ offices and ask them to transfer your files to your current doctor. You may need to provide them with your current doctor’s email, phone, or fax number. If you’re a Quest patient, you can use your MyQuest® app to send test results directly to your doctor.

Arrange for help if needed

It’s usually fine to bring another person to your doctor visit if you need them for emotional or physical support. Just give the office a heads-up that someone will be joining your appointment. If you do plan on bringing someone for support, plan early to make sure they’re available for your appointment date and time.

If you need support because of a language barrier, your doctor’s office may be able to help. Ask if they provide language translation services. If not, plan to bring someone along to interpret.

Ensure your doctor accepts your insurance

Don’t let insurance issues delay your care. Make sure you confirm with both your doctor’s office and insurance company that your visit is covered. And check if it requires any additional paperwork, such as a referral. If you have a co-pay or a deductible, ask your doctor’s office to confirm what your payment will be so there are no surprises.

If you don’t have insurance, ask your doctor’s office about your cost of care. You may be able to set up a payment plan or pay in advance for a reduced rate.

Make the most of your doctor’s visit

Take notes

You may learn a lot of new information at your appointment, and it can be hard to remember everything. Bring a pen and paper or plan to take notes on your phone. That way, you have a record of what your doctor says, and you can refer to key information later. If you bring someone for support, ask them to take notes, too. This helps make sure you don’t miss any important information.

Leave with actionable next steps

You should leave your appointment with clear next steps. Confirm your plan of action with your doctor, whether that’s testing, seeing a specialist, beginning medication, or just monitoring your symptoms with a plan to return in a few weeks or months.

If your doctor suggests additional testing or treatment, make sure you get lab orders, a prescription, or a referral (if needed) right away. If you need a follow-up appointment, make sure you schedule that before leaving the office. This will save you the headache of having to call or return to your doctor’s office later to get the information you need.

What to do after your appointment

If you need lab testing, make sure you understand any fasting requirements before you go. If your lab orders don’t specify, call or message your doctor and ask them to confirm. When getting your lab testing, ask your phlebotomist to verbally confirm the tests you’re getting to make sure they’re correct and align with your lab orders.

Contact your doctor if you have questions or health changes

Your relationship with your doctor doesn’t end when your appointment is over. Your doctor is available to answer questions about your care. You can call the office to contact them, or send them a direct message through your electronic patient portal, if available.

You should contact your doctor if

• You have new or worsening symptoms
• You’ve received test results that you don’t understand or would like to discuss
• You have questions about or issues with any medications you’ve been prescribed
• You’ve seen a specialist and want to discuss the results of that visit with your doctor
• You have any other questions about your health

Get a second opinion if you need one

Not happy with the care you received? Just want another opinion to make sure you’re making the right health choices for you? Ask for a second opinion! A second opinion can give you greater peace of mind or offer other ways of addressing your health concerns.