Make the Most of Your Healthcare Provider Visits
Multiple Sclerosis and Healthcare Appointments
The Healthcare Providers on Your Team
Prepare for Your Appointment
Use our medication tracker. - Keep a journal or list of symptoms, problems and questions to bring to your appointment. Prioritize it, with the most concerning issues at the top in case time runs short.
- Practice describing your symptoms and concerns as clearly and concisely as possible.
- Bring a list of your current prescription drugs, over-the-counter remedies, herbal supplements, vitamins or other dietary supplements. Use our medication tracker.
- Keep a journal or list of symptoms, problems and questions to bring to your appointment. Prioritize it, with the most concerning issues at the top in case time runs short.
- Practice describing your symptoms and concerns as clearly and concisely as possible.
- Connect with an MS Navigator for help ensuring that you have affordable access to the healthcare providers you choose. You can contact one at 1-800-344-4867 or online.
- Know what your insurance plan will or won't cover, especially if you choose to go out of network.
- Traveling a long way to see the right healthcare provider is often a smart investment. However, think through the costs in money, fatigue and stress on family members.
- Anything that’s of concern to you — including problems with your mood, sexual function, thinking and memory, or bladder and bowel function — is of interest to your MS healthcare team and important for them to know.
- If you don’t understand what your providers are saying, ask them to clarify.
- If you’re not sure what’s related to your MS and what’s not, ask your healthcare provider to help you sort it out.
- While you may have numerous concerns, it’s important to prioritize what is most important or troublesome. Time for appointments can be very limited, so make sure to discuss your 2 or 3 most pressing problems first.
If a healthcare provider suggests a treatment, ask:
- How much medication will I need to take and for how long?
- Is this covered by my insurance and, if not, how much will this treatment cost me?
- What are the expected outcomes?
- What side effects are common with this treatment?
- Why do you think this treatment is best for me?
- Are there alternatives to this test?
- How is this test performed?
- Is this covered by my insurance and, if not, how much will this test cost me?
- What are the benefits of this test?
- When can I expect to hear results? Should I call the office for the results or will I be notified?
- Why do I need this test and what are the possible outcomes?
You have a right to:
- Ask for information
- Ask for what you want
- Be listened to and taken seriously
- Be treated with respect
- Change your mind
- Assert yourself or not
- Get what you pay for
- Have and express feelings and opinions
- Make mistakes
- Say no without feeling guilty
- Set your own priorities
- Being honest with the doctors and other healthcare workers
- Following the agreed-upon treatment plan
- Providing information about your experience and condition as clearly and briefly as possible
- Keeping scheduled appointments
- Respecting the doctors and healthcare providers
- Understanding that no one has all the answers to MS