What To Expect Coming In For Your First Visit

Going to the doctor’s office for your first appointment can generate a wide spectrum of emotions ranging from anxiety to frustration to confusion. I find myself asking these questions: Do I know where the office is? How early should I arrive? How much paperwork am I going to have to complete? I am going to have to wait long? I’m sure we all ask ourselves similar questions and there is a feeling of anxiety in not knowing what to expect.

Your doctor’s appointment should not cause heart palpitations! During that first phone call to my office I like to let new patient’s know exactly what to expect during that initial visit. After picking a time to be seen, the patient is told that their first visit will take roughly forty five minutes to an hour to complete. Our patients are given the choice of having their paperwork mailed to them, or they can come into the office a little early (30 minutes before their appointment) to fill out the forms. The paperwork should take about 15-20 minutes to complete and we found that by mailing our patients the “New Patient Packet” ahead of time helped to alleviate some of the stress derived from that first visit. Filling out the forms at home allows you to work at your own pace without feeling rushed. I found it allows people to be very thorough with their complaint, which allows me to do a better job examining you. The packet includes directions to our office, a check list of what to bring to your first visit and at what time you should arrive. On that first phone call we take all pertinent insurance information and we qualify your chiropractic benefits for you.

If there is one thing that aggravates me more than anything, it is wasting a whole afternoon at the doctor’s office. My appointment can be for 2:00 p.m. and I don’t get seen until 3:15 and then I am not out of the office until 5:00! What a waste of an afternoon. At Suburban Chiopractic, your appointment time is the time you are seen (give or take 10 minutes; I do get backed up sometimes). Your first visit should take a total of 90 minutes from the time you walk in the door until the time you walk out. Your time is very valuable and we appreciate that, so we do the best job we can and still get you on your way as soon as we can.

There shouldn’t any confusion when it comes to your first office visit. Everything is laid out for you so you know what to expect and when to expect it. I will always strive to make your experience at my office a memorable one, but in a good way!