Many people start the New Year with goals to prioritize preventive healthcare or optimize long-term health. The best way to achieve this goal is to establish care with a primary care physician who can help you improve your physical health while also lowering your risk of developing chronic health conditions like heart disease, high blood pressure, diabetes, and several types of cancer.
Having a primary care physician is linked to better access to health care, timelier diagnoses, and more effective medical treatment when needed. On average, people with a primary care doctor spend 33% less on overall healthcare costs and have nearly 20% lower odds of dying prematurely.
When you establish care with a primary care physician, the first thing you’ll do is have a new patient appointment. This visit helps your doctor understand your medical history, current health concerns, and wellness goals. Read on to get an idea of what to expect, what to bring with you, what questions to ask, and where to find the best primary care doctor in East Brunswick.
How to Prepare for a New Patient Appointment
The best way to prepare for your new patient visit for primary care is to bring any important medical documents and notes that can help your physician provide accurate, personalized care. You’ll want to bring the following items:
- A current photo ID
- Your medical insurance card and prescription card
- A current list of every medication, vitamin, and supplement you take, including the dose and how often you take it
- Your vaccine record or a general idea of whether or not your immunizations are up-to-date
- Medical records from your previous primary care physician
- Recent lab results and imaging reports
- The name and contact information for your next of kin or emergency contact
- Notes about your family medical history, especially your parents, siblings, and grandparents
- A list of any health concerns or goals that you want to discuss
Before your appointment, you should also think about what has been bothering you most, like fatigue that makes afternoons feel heavy, sleep that never feels refreshing, anxiety that interferes with life, weight changes, family history concerns, or a simple desire to focus on health optimization and chronic disease prevention this year.
Many patients have a long list of things they’d like to talk about, but once they're in the room, they forget half of it. Writing down symptoms, questions, and goals before your primary care visit helps ensure nothing is missed.
What to Expect During a New Patient Appointment
After checking in at the front office, you will need to complete new-patient paperwork that asks about your health history, allergies, medications, family history, and lifestyle habits. After that, a medical assistant will bring you back for a quick conversation to take your vital signs and confirm some of the most important information, including:
- Prescription and over-the-counter medications
- Current health concerns you may have
- Preferred pharmacy
- Any allergies you may have
When the doctor meets with you, you’ll have a more in-depth conversation about your current and past medical history, family medical history, concerns, and goals. You’ll also undergo a thorough physical exam, which includes:
- Listening to your heart and lungs
- Looking in your ears, nose, and mouth for any irregularities
- Checking for swollen lymph nodes
- Assessing your reflexes and your skin
If necessary, the doctor will also conduct assessments of your vision and hearing. If needed, women may also get a pap smear, pelvic exam, and breast exam. Prostate exams are recommended for men over the age of 50 with average risk or age 45 for those with higher risk.
Questions You Should Be Prepared to Answer at a New Patient Appointment
One of the biggest parts of new patient appointments is answering questions. This is important for your new primary care doctor to get a good understanding of your history, your current health, your genetic risk factors, and how your lifestyle is impacting your health. Some of the most common questions asked at new patient appointments include:
- Your past medical and surgical history: This includes going over any major illnesses you’ve had in the past, previous surgeries and procedures, and any chronic illnesses you currently have.
- Your family history: This is important because it provides insight into your genetic risk factors.
- Your lifestyle: This includes talking about things like your smoking or drinking history, how much sleep you get, your menstrual cycle, typical stress levels, chronic pain, how much exercise you typically get, what you do for work, your mental health, and more.
After Your New Patient Appointment: Labs, Referrals, and Follow-Ups
After your initial visit, a primary care doctor’s responsibility is to help you optimize your health and extend both your healthspan and your lifespan. Part of getting this right is to recommend blood testing, imaging, and follow-ups. You might even need a referral to a specialist if you have a particularly complex condition or chronic illness.
Finding the Best Primary Care Doctor in East Brunswick for Comprehensive Healthcare
Your health should not feel like a folder of loose papers you keep meaning to organize. Establishing care with a primary care physician who stays invested in your healthspan is the best way to prioritize your health in the new year and every year after.
At Hyatt Health & Wellness, we care for individuals and families across Somerset, Middlesex, and Mercer Counties. Dr. Hyatt offers a patient-first approach for all types of care, whether you need an annual exam, DOT physicals, a well-woman exam, a sick visit, or chronic illness management.