Your first consultation with a physician is a most critical meeting. It is at that meeting that the doctor will gain an understanding of your problems and your history. It is important that the information that you provide him be accurate and complete and it is worthwhile taking a few minutes to prepare before your meeting.
What should I bring?
- Know ALL of your medications and their dosages. The doctor cannot recommend changes without knowing what your are taking. Perhaps more importantly, he cannot determine if any of your symptoms are due to the medications if you cannot tell him what they are. Either write down the name and dosage (the number followed by “mg”) or bring the bottles in so that he can see them.
- If you have any information about previous tests, procedures, or operations, please bring that along too so that he can review them.
- If you are being sent for, or suspect that you might need a stress test, bring along rubber-soled shoes (sneakers are best) and wear comfortable clothing that you can run in.
- If you are being sent by your primary care physician, please bring any notes that he might have given you for Dr. Robbins, as well as the primary physician's name, address, and phone number so that Dr. Robbins can send a report. Also please bring a referral if required by your insurance company.
- Some patients find it helpful to write a list of questions before they come so that they can make sure that they have raised all of their concerns with the doctor.
How much time should it take?
- Please allot enough time. A thorough cardiovascular evaluation can be time consuming and we often try to perform necessary tests, when appropriate and when possible, at the time of the initial visit to afford you some results as soon as possible.
What if I cannot speak English well?
- While we do try to accommodate most common languages, if you have difficulties expressing yourself in English, it is often helpful to bring along a friend who is fluent in both your native tongue and English.
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