DOCTOR VISIT PLAYBOOK
Guess how long your last primary care visit was. 30 minutes? Wrong. The truth is, primary care visits are just slightly longer than it takes to boil pasta — just 18 minutes, based on the national average. That’s barely enough time to say hello, let alone dig into the backstory of your body, mind, prescription history, and recent aches and concerns.
Even if you’ve invested in a concierge doctor, chances are you’re still waiting weeks for an appointment and crossing your fingers they remember your name or at least your chart. The bottom line? Getting the care you need starts with being prepared — really prepared.
Here’s how to turn those fleeting minutes with your provider into meaningful care:
1. Treat your health like a journey. Keep notes.
Keep a running document — a journal, a notes app, whatever works — that includes your symptoms, medications, questions, habits, and red flags. Write down what’s changed since your last visit. Write down what you want out of this one.
2. Paperwork: The unsung hero of a smooth visit.
Have your insurance card, ID, and any relevant documents in hand — or better yet, emailed in advance. Labs, test results, referrals, allergy lists — get it all to your doctor before you walk through the door. The less time they spend decoding your admin trail, the more time they can spend on you.
3. Bring backup
A trusted friend, partner, or family member can help absorb info, take notes, and catch what you miss. They’re also a grounding force when things get emotional or overwhelming — which, let’s face it, happens more often than we admit.
Want a better appointment? Hire a healthcare advisor.
Healthcare advisors are the secret weapons for navigating the labyrinth of modern healthcare and medicine. They don’t just make calls or manage paperwork — they act as your strategic partner in care. They ensure that all aspects of your physician visit is optimized based on your unique needs.
Before your visit, a great health advisor will:
Vet your providers to ensure you’re working with the best and ensure that the provider you are seeing is the best fit based on expertise and focus of practice.
Communicate directly with your care team to make sure they’re briefed and ready and aware of any high priority needs.
Ensure your medical records, insurance details, and diagnostics are already in the room when you arrive.
Streamline communication by providing a summary of your health conditions with current symptoms and treatments.
Eliminate friction — streamline all aspects of the healthcare process so you can focus on your health, not the process.
Join you for the appointment, if needed, to help advocate and clarify.
After your visit, they stick around. Think of them as your personal advocate and guide, helping you decode next steps, referrals, treatment plans, and bills. Whether you’re managing chronic conditions, seeking a specialist, or trying to find a path through mental health care or recovery — health advisors make the system work for you, and help overcome the many obstacles within the healthcare system.
Want help finding the right advisor or building a prep plan before your next appointment? Let’s talk. Because 18 minutes is short — but it doesn’t have to be wasted. With the right playbook every minute of your encounter can be optimized.