Tips For Effectively Communicating Your Needs With An Urgent Care Clinic's Physician

If you need to urgently be seen by a physician but your family doctor doesn't have any available appointments or you happen to be out of town on vacation, then these tips will help you effectively communicate your needs with a walk-in clinic's doctor:

Tip: Write Down Your Specific Concerns and Questions Prioritized in Order of Importance

Since you will likely be nervous when seeing a new doctor in a different clinic than you are used to going to, it's easy to forget exactly what you want to say or leave out important details. To ensure you get the right information across to the doctor and have the most productive appointment possible, write down your specific concerns and exact questions before you leave the house. In addition, rank each of the questions and rewrite them down in the order of importance just in case you don't have enough time to cover all of your issues.

Tip: Bring Someone with You to Your Urgent Care Appointment

If you are in a lot of pain or prone to forgetting information, then take a relative or friend to the walk-in clinic with you. This way you will be able to talk with someone if you forget the information given to you by the new doctor. Doctors are used to having observers at appointments and there is no problem with this as long as you as the patient agree to share your medical information with them.

Tip: Take a List of Your Current Prescriptions, Drug Allergies, and Medical Conditions

When you get to the urgent care clinic, they will ask you questions about the prescriptions you currently take, your drug allergies, and about your other current medical conditions. If you take an extensive list of medications or have other medical issues, write down all of this information so you will have it at your fingertips when you attend your appointment.

Tip: Ask if the Medication being Prescribed is Covered by Your Insurance or If There is an Alternative

If the walk-in medical clinic's doctor needs to prescribe medication to you for your condition and you are concerned about its cost, then ask the doctor if it is covered by your insurance. Doctors usually know this information or have it at hand in their computer systems. If the medication isn't covered or is expensive, then ask if there is a cheaper alternative or one that is covered that is just as effective.