Advice for that first visit: 4 steps to save your time

1. The most important thing for that new office visit with that new primary care doctor or specialist?  Be on time, even 15 minutes early.

Yes, you may have to sit and wait, and you know why?  Because of the half dozen other people who didn't show up on time.  We had one patient show up 15 minutes late at my doctor's office this morning and it threw us off for the entire day's schedule.  Show up early and the front desk staff will love you.  Trust me on this one.

2. Bring your ID and your insurance card. 

Medical regulations and HIPAA regulations are tougher than ever.  Make sure we know that it's you and we can serve you faster and better.  And if you need to get your records from another doctor, bring their address and phone number so we can have you fill out the right forms. 

3. Bring a list of your medications! 

Your doctor may have gone to medical school but that doesn't mean they will know what "the blue pill for my heart" is!  Bring a list of your medications, the dosages and the time of day you take them and your doctor will be very grateful.

4.  If the office mails you any paperwork to fill out beforehand, please do so and bring it with you. 

You will save yourself a lot of time with questions about your history that the doctor needs to know to treat you.  They may only have 30 minutes to see you depending on insurance demands, so make the most of it.  You don't want to have to explain your entire family history when your new doctor could simply read over it and then ask any questions he or she has. 

That's a few bits of advice to start.  More later!  Happy and Healthy New Year to you all . . . .

I guess an intro is in order. Hang on; here we go!

I'm 41year old wife, Mom of 3, Renn Faire addict, Gamer Grrrl (mostly AD&D), amateur herbalist and aromatherapist, and medical front office worker. I have a houseful of wonderful family and friends and pets and I live in the neighborhood I grew up in. When not volunteering or working, I am the Mom of Doom, the Family Disciplinarian, the Corrector of Homework, and She Who Organizes the Dreaded Calendar of the Five Highlighters. I am part of a regular group of friends that plays RPG's both on computer and tabletop. When not happily and insanely busy, my life is taken up with attempting to make sure the yarn and books don't take over the entire house in a cooperative coup d'etat with the children's toys. I'm on Facebook hooking up with friends I've been missing for years and on Livejournal keeping touch with the locals.

As for the medical stuff? I've been patient who has gone through 5 surgeries including both knees, three pregnancies, a case of gestational diabetes and is battling to lose weight for health reasons. I've also worked as a medical records specialist, a medical transcriptionist and a medical front office specialist sine 1999, only taking breaks to raise my kids. I've taken courses in Anatomy, Microbiolology and Physiology as well as Medical Terminology. And yes, I've had all the fun of repeatedly dealing with those lovely insurance companies . . . .

(Updated 12/29/10 - restarting this blog!)