Things to do Before Visiting Your Cardiologist
Posted by North Ohio Heart Center and Ohio Medical Group on Wed, Nov 04, 2009
Doing some homework and preparation before meeting with your cardiologist can help make sure you get the best care. Here’s what you can do:
- Bring a list of your current medications--with name, dose, and frequency and any medication allergies.
- Carry a list of your health care providers-- name, address, telephone number, and condition to help your cardiologist communicate with your other care providers.
- Create a health history—surgical procedures, prior or ongoing illnesses or health issues, major tests, especially within the last year. Knowing this can give your physician clues to make the right diagnosis or prescribe the best course of treatment.
- Compile a family health history--close blood relatives are most important, back to your grandparents. Especially those relatives that have been diagnosed with heart disease, high blood pressure, high cholesterol, (http://www.nohc.com/) diabetes, or aneurysm.
- Bring in copies of any recent lab results--if you have them, and any other test results from the past year, especially from a different health care provider.
- Research your condition--having a better understanding of your condition ahead of time will allow you to have a more meaningful discussion with your physician.
- Write down your questions-- then pick the top 3 or 4 concerns. It can be easy to get side tracked during a medical appointment. Write down ahead of time what pieces of information you want to leave with.
- Create an organized folder--easy access during your visit will make things run more smoothly.
- Don’t take anything for granted--although information systems are getting better, and communication between systems is improving, you are still the most reliable repository of your health care record. Keep your copy accurate and up to date.