According to the journal Medical Care, a doctor’s appointment lasts a mere 18 minutes on average. Given that time crunch, it’s understandable if your first thought as you leave an exam is “Ugh, I forgot to ask about…” Your doctors don’t want this unfortunate outcome any more than you do. Take their advice and you’ll both make the best use of your precious time together.

- Set up your patient portal if your doctor offers this option. “It can help with getting test results and prescription information, and communicating with the doctor’s office,” says Fabio Danisi, MD, Associate Director of Neurology at MidHudson Regional Hospital.
- Write down everything you want to ask. “A lot of times, especially if there’s bad news or the doctor’s going over a lot of different things, you can get lost. If you have your questions written down ahead of time, you can make sure they’re addressed and not just go with the doctor’s agenda,” says Kavita Aggarwal, MD, an internist with Optum Health.
- Put the most important questions at the top of your list. “Sometimes you may not get through everything, but make sure you get the priority questions answered,” says Montefiore St. Luke’s Cornwall’s Chief Medical Officer, Gina Del Savio, MD, CPE. You can discuss the others through the patient portal or over a call.
- Don’t forget to take a pen and notepad. That way, you’ll be able to write down any answers or instructions you’re given, says Dr. Danisi.
- Have a list of your medications, as well as a list of any other doctors you’re seeing. “Being organized helps everyone focus on the health issues at hand without getting distracted by logistics,” Dr. Danisi says.
- If the visit is for your child, let them talk, too. “It never hurts to ask if they have any questions or concerns. It’s amazing to hear what they have to say, and additionally, it’s sometimes very entertaining,” says Traci Toll-Griffin, MD, a pediatrician at Northwell Health’s Northern Westchester Hospital.
- Make sure your latest test results are available. “While many of us think that the doctor will have these already, it’s all dependent on where you had those tests done,” Dr. Del Savio says. “The best thing to do is call ahead and ask the office about the specific tests and see if they have access. If not, the best practice is to bring a copy of all recent blood tests, X-rays, or any other testing to the appointment. Your doctor’s office can always make a copy for their records.”
- If your doctor orders a test, request more information. “Ask what the test is about, and what will happen based on various results,” Dr. Aggarwal advises. “You should also ask what kind of follow-up you can expect, and how you can easily reach the doctor if you have further questions.”
- Ask if you’re up to date on immunizations and screenings. It’s good to know how soon you’ll need these, says Lisa Ferrara, MD, Internal Medicine, Good Samaritan Hospital (Rockland Pulmonary & Medical Associates, Part of Bon Secours Medical Group).
- Understand that sometimes a visit is about ruling out possible causes of a problem, not determining the right one. “For example, if your child has chest pain and the doctor says the heart is fine and not the cause, it’s reassuring but can also be frustrating, since there is no specific cause or diagnosis. The important thing is that the evaluation has excluded important problems that could hurt your child,” says Robert Vincent, MD, Section Chief, Pediatric Cardiology, at Maria Fareri Children’s Hospital.
- If your doctor prescribes a new medication, have a conversation about it. “Ask why they are prescribing this [drug] and what it will do inside the body. Too many times a patient will stop a medication on their own and when asked why, it’s because they were not fully aware of why it was prescribed,” says Seth Hurwitz, MD, a cardiologist with Metropolitan Cardiology Consultants, part of Bon Secours Medical Group.
- Ask about alternatives to your treatment plan. Dr. Danisi often gives this advice; there may be more options than you think. (And on the other hand, if plan B sounds dreadful, you’ll feel more certain that your physician’s original recommendation is the way to go.)
- Go ahead and ask if your insurance will cover your treatment. “Doctors often keep in mind what the patient’s insurance is, because certain insurances cover certain meds and others don’t. It doesn’t hurt for the patient to ask. You should also ask if there will be extra steps needed to get authorization,” Dr. Aggarwal says.
- If you don’t understand something, you need to speak up. “It’s important to be an advocate for your own care—it benefits both you and your doctor, says Susmitha Dhanyamraju, MD, Section Chief of Nephrology, MidHudson Regional Hospital.
- If you have a great check-up, ask how to make sure your future ones will be too. “Ask, ‘What can I do to prolong my life in the healthiest way possible?’” suggests Dr. Ferrara. It may open the door to conversations about exercise, diet, and more.
- Schedule your next visit before you leave. This will save you the hassle of remembering to get in touch later, and you’ll have a better chance of snagging a desirable date and time slot, says Shantie Harkisoon, MD, of Garnet Health Doctors, Family Medicine.