Preparing for my appointment
Preparing for your medical appointment means getting ready to clearly communicate the reasons for your visit. Knowing what to say ahead of time increases your chances of a better and more productive experience.
The Getting ready form is here to guide you. It helps you understand what you might be asked and what is important to say. It also helps you think about your needs and prepare your questions. With good preparation, you're taking charge of your health!
Open the Getting ready form
IMPORTANT: The form does not replace a medical appointment. The form will not be sent to your healthcare professional before your appointment. If you have an urgent medical issue, dial 911 to reach emergency services. If you need health information quickly and can't wait for your medical appointment, dial 811 to reach Info-Santé.
Why prepare for my appointment?
Being prepared to describe your symptoms, needs, and expectations makes your medical appointment easier. When your healthcare professional clearly understands your situation, they can offer care that's better suited to you.
Being prepared helps you to:
Make the most of your appointment
Appointments are often short, so it's important to use every minute wisely!
Remember things
The Getting ready form acts as a reminder, helping you remember all of the important details.
Reduce stress
Knowing what to say or ask ahead of time helps you feel more comfortable and manage your emotions.
Take an active role in your appointment so that it meets your needs:
- Fill out the Getting ready form ahead of time and have it with you when meeting your healthcare professional.
- At the beginning of your appointment, let your healthcare professional know you would like to share information and ask questions.
- If something isn't clear, don't hesitate to ask your healthcare professional to explain it again. Ask questions and request details to fully understand your health issue and proposed treatments.
- Repeat what you've understood to confirm it with your healthcare professional.
- Before leaving, confirm your next steps.
- Feel free to discuss any concerns, preferences, or expectations about your health.
Why use the Getting ready form?
The Getting ready form helps you plan ahead what you want to discuss during your appointment and write it down. This way, you don't forget anything important during your visit, which can often be a stressful time!
The Getting ready form is designed to help you address one main health issue, but you can add other topics if needed. Here are examples of questions included in the form:
- How long have you had this issue?
- How intense is your discomfort?
- How worried are you?
- Does this issue prevent you from doing certain activities?
- What have you already tried to help relieve your symptoms?
Is the Getting ready form useful in my situation?
I have an appointment for a new health issue or a known health problem that's getting worse.
YES, the form will be helpful. Having your completed form with you during the appointment is a good idea. It will help you remember important points and clearly explain your situation.
I have a follow-up appointment for a known health issue, and everything is going well.
YES, the form could be helpful. Reviewing the questions can help you identify anything new since your last appointment. You can use the form to write down any important points that you don’t want to forget.
I want to renew a prescription.
YES, the form could be helpful so you don’t forget any of your medications. It can also help you discuss over-the-counter medications and potential interactions with prescribed medications. Reviewing the other sections of the form can also ensure you haven't forgotten anything important to discuss with your healthcare professional.
I need to have a form filled out (for example, after a workplace accident).
NO, the form probably won't be very helpful. However, reviewing the sections might help ensure you haven’t forgotten other issues you'd like to discuss with your healthcare professional.
I have questions about preparing for a medical appointment
Our partners*:
* We thank the CIUSSS EMTL for their contributions to the project that led to the development of the Preparing for my appointment website.
) to complete the Getting ready form online.