What does initial office visit mean?

Answer 1

When you first make contact with a certain doctor, this person does not know you.

The initial office visit simply means your first time meeting your doctor, and these are some of the things you might want to think about, and/or bring with you, if you have them.

Past medical history. (When you were a child, did you have any signifgent illness or surgery? Do you know of any definite illness you have now, and who diagnosed it, and when? Do you have children, how did you give birth (C-section? etc))

Everything and anything you can think of that you have been told you have, or a past doctor or nurse was concerned about with you, should be told to your new doctor on this first visit,

The longer and more specific your list of your "PMA" (Past Medical History), the more effectively the doctor can treat you.

Any Allergies at all, even if you took a medication one time, and it did something to you that it was not supposed to.

BE HONEST about any alcohol or drug use or past use or abuse, it is quite common now for doctors to learn of their patients having this "disease" (Alcoholism, addiction, gambling, etc)

The Doctor is NOT there to judge you, and if you FEEL judged, leave the office and find another doctor.

The Doctor will have you sign "release of medical information" to any past places you have been treated at, including emergency rooms and clinics.

Again the more info the doctor has on you, the better they can make decisions on how to treat you.

This "initial visit" is a chance for you and your doctor to get to know each other a bit. Do not be afraid to ask questions about where they went to school, what their feelings on specific issues are, such as abortion, addiction, etc

Hope this helps!