10 Mistakes People Make When Scheduling an Orthopedic Clinic Appointment
Being in pain and making an orthopedic appointment can be, well, a pain! It is hard to think of everything to do while going through an injury or chronic condition. If you are scheduling and arriving at the appointment by yourself for the first time, it’s helpful to know the basics. Following these 10 steps will ensure you are prepared and aware of what to expect when scheduling an orthopedic appointment.
How Do You Schedule an Appointment at Elite?
You can schedule an appointment with Elite Sports Medicine + Orthopedics by calling 615.324.1600! Before calling, follow these 10 steps to successfully set up your first orthopedic appointment.
Avoid Leaving Out Multiple Injuries / Conditions
When you call, the scheduler will ask you questions about your injury or condition. At Elite, all our doctors specialize in different ailments of the body. The scheduler asks you these questions in order to place you with the right doctor or their team. If you only tell them, you are having knee pain, then go to the appointment and tell the doctor about your back pain, you may have the schedule another appointment with a different doctor on a different day to treat that part of the body as well. Make sure to tell the schedule about all the pain, injuries or conditions you wish to be seen for.
Have Your Calendar on Hand
Knowing your schedule and when you are available for an appointment is important before calling the orthopedic clinic. Some doctors may have tighter schedules than others, meaning you may have to be flexible with your schedule in order to see the physician you would like to see. Make sure to give yourself more time in your day than just the scheduled appointment time. Take into consideration travel time, possible traffic, and arriving at your appointment early to fill out new patient paperwork.
Unable to Explain Symptoms Well
If you are unable to explain your symptoms well, ask a family member or someone you trust to explain them to you. There is no problem being confused about your pain, that is for the doctor to help you figure out. However, the more information you can give to the scheduler the easier it is for them to help you find the best doctor for your specific injury or condition. Researching your symptoms can be helpful before calling the clinic so that you have an idea of what is going on.
Waiting Until Pain is Severe
We always encourage patients to schedule their appointment before the pain or injury worsens. You may not be able to be seen by a doctor immediately at Elite, so schedule your appointment as soon as it happens. If your injury requires immediate medical attention, call 911 or go to your local ER. You will receive the care you need on the spot and will be able to schedule an appointment with us for any follow-up care needed.
Not Having their Insurance Card on Hand
When you call, the scheduler will ask you for your medical insurance. Many patients forget to have this on hand, and it causes the call time to be longer. They will ask you for your insurance card to ensure you are in network with the doctor you would like to see. Not all doctors at Elite take the same insurance, so it is important the scheduler runs your insurance to make sure you can see the correct orthopedic surgeon and get scheduled as soon as possible.
Bring Your Previous Imaging with You
If you were referred by another primary care provider who took images of your injury or condition in the past, make sure to bring this imaging with you on a disc so your doctor can review it. This will avoid having to reschedule an appointment or get further images you already have.
Not researching the doctor before scheduling
All our providers have their own pages on our website where you can see their background, specializations, and even their interests outside of medicine! You can find that page here. Researching the doctor before scheduling the appointment speeds up the scheduling process and gives you an idea of what to expect at your doctor’s appointment.
Not wearing the proper shoes
Your doctor may ask you to do certain movements during your appointment to evaluate your body and injury. If you are wearing heels or another kind of show that prohibits this kind of movement, it may be difficult for the doctor to give you the appropriate evaluation.
Not Coming Prepared to the appointment
You are always your own, best advocate for your health. Coming prepared to the appointment with questions, concerns, and prior knowledge of your injury or condition can make all the difference in the smoothness of the appointment. Our doctors at Elite focus on spending the appropriate amount of time with each patient and would be happy to answer all the questions or concerns you have about your orthopedic injury or condition.
