How to make the most of your doctor visits

shutterstock_2182655711.jpg

Whether you only step foot in the doctors’ office once a year for your regular preventive exam, see multiple specialists regularly or avoid medical care until you feel sick, going to the doctor is probably not something you look forward to. Let’s change that!

No matter your situation, these tips will help simplify your experience and make the most of your doctor visits.

Get personal for your health

When you go to the doctor, would you rather see someone who knows you and your medical history or have to explain a health concern to someone you just met five minutes ago at the urgent care clinic?

Having a primary care provider (PCP) helps personalize your visits, no matter how frequently or infrequently you see them. That’s because this person gets to know you, your medical history and your health and wellness goals. They can also help coordinate your care with other providers, which means you have one less thing to worry about.

If you don’t already have a PCP, there’s no better time than now to choose one. Start by finding a few doctor’s offices close to home or work in your network with myWellmark^®. Then, narrow down who you’d like to see and check their availability.

The most important thing is to choose a PCP who's right for you — someone you can connect to and feel comfortable talking with. Even if you can’t get an appointment with the same provider every time, going to the same office or clinic will help personalize your care.

Stay connected to your care

Having key health information at your fingertips helps you stay engaged in and informed about your health. Make a note of any previous conditions or treatments you've received to be ready for questions from your doctor. Use technology to your advantage and keep track of your medications, symptoms and health habits like your diet, exercise and sleep. You can also include any notes and questions you have so you can refer to them during your visit.

Many provider offices also have patient portals where you can schedule future appointments, request prescription refills, view test results and message your provider with questions — like those you forgot to ask at your appointment. Some even have pre-visit questionnaires so you can check in ahead of time and make sure all your health information is up to date. The more you engage in your care, the smoother your doctor visits will go.

Know your options for health care

Depending on the reason for your visit, you may not always have to go in person. Talk to your provider to see if they have a virtual visit option for care.

Also, most Wellmark Blue Cross and Blue Shield members can save time and a trip to the doctor’s office by using Doctor On Demand^®, a virtual visit service available on your smartphone, tablet or computer. Physicians with Doctor On Demand can treat (and even prescribe medication for) common ailments like colds and the flu, minor aches and pains, allergies, rashes and more — it’s like having an urgent care in the palm of your hand. You can also schedule visits for preventive care with the same provider each time, which will help you develop a similar patient-provider relationship that you’d have with a PCP.

For health questions or concerns that may not need an in-person or virtual visit, Wellmark members can use BeWell 24/7^® to get answers day or night. You can use BeWell 24/7 to find a doctor, coordinate appointments, get treatment advice, seek a second opinion and manage complex care situations. All you need to do is call 844-842-3935.

The bottom line

It’s important to make your health a priority, stay on top of preventive care and get the treatment you need.

With myWelmark, you can find complete coverage details, see easy-to-understand claims information, know which doctors are in your network, get cost estimates and much more. Plus, you can take all that information on-the-go with the myWellmark mobile app. Get started today.