For a specialist appointment, bring your referral, a full medication list, any recent test results or scans, a short record of your symptoms and how regularly you have taken your medication, your written questions and the admin details the clinic asked for. Put it all in one folder the night before, and you will get far more out of a short appointment.
Specialist appointments are often long awaited, sometimes expensive and usually short. It is common to walk out and remember the question you meant to ask. A bit of preparation fixes most of that. This checklist covers what to bring and how to organise it. Requirements differ between clinics and countries, so check any letter or message the clinic sent you as well.
The admin
- Your referral letter, if the clinic has not already received it. Check whether it is still valid; some referrals expire.
- Your Medicare card, or health insurance details, or whatever your local system uses.
- Photo ID.
- Any forms the clinic sent in advance, filled in.
- Your GP's name and contact details, so the specialist can write back.
- A way to pay, if there is a fee. Ask about costs when you book if you are unsure.
Your medication list
This is one of the most useful things you can bring. For every medication, include:
- Name and strength, exactly as on the label
- How much and how often
- What it is for
- When you started it
- Who prescribed it
Include vitamins, supplements, creams, inhalers, eye drops and anything you buy without a prescription. Also note anything you have stopped recently, and why. If you are not sure the list is complete, ask your pharmacist to print one from their records and check it against yours.
Bring the actual packs too, if your list is long or you are unsure of any names. A bag of boxes is better than a guess.
How you have been taking it
Specialists often need to know not just what is prescribed but what you actually take. A short summary helps:
- How regularly you have taken each medication over the past one to three months
- Any missed doses, and whether there is a pattern
- How often you use any as-needed medication, and whether that has changed
- Any changes in timing, such as taking an evening dose in the morning
Our guide to keeping a medication log your doctor can use shows a simple one-page format.
Your symptoms
Write a short timeline:
- When the problem started
- How it has changed
- What makes it better or worse
- What you have already tried, and what happened
- How it affects daily life: work, sleep, exercise, family
Keep it to one page. Specific is better than dramatic: "woken by pain three nights a week" says more than "terrible nights".
Results and records
- Recent blood tests, scans or reports, if they are not already with the specialist. Ask your GP's clinic whether results have been sent.
- Images on disc or a link, if a scan was done elsewhere.
- Letters from other specialists.
- Readings you have taken at home, such as blood pressure or blood glucose, if relevant, summarised by week.
Your questions
Write them down, most important first. You may not get through them all. Some useful ones:
- What do you think is going on?
- What are the options, and what are the trade-offs?
- What happens next, and when?
- Is there anything I should change about my current medication? (Only they can answer this.)
- Who do I contact if things get worse before the next appointment?
Leave space to write the answers, or ask if you can record the conversation.
On the day
- Arrive early for paperwork.
- Bring someone, if you would like a second set of ears. Many people find it helps.
- Take notes, or ask the person with you to.
- Ask for anything new in writing, such as a medication change or a test to book.
- Check who will tell your GP what was decided.
After the appointment
Update your medication list and reminders the same day if anything changed. Book any tests straight away. Put the next appointment in your calendar. If a new medication was prescribed, our guide to starting a new medication covers the first two weeks.
A folder that is always ready
If you see specialists often, keep a folder with the current medication list, the latest results and a page for questions. Update it after each appointment, and you will only ever need to add the new referral.
How Cadence helps
Cadence keeps your medication list, each dose with the time it was taken, as-needed use and daily reflections on mood, energy and symptoms. Cadence Pro creates a PDF report with your medications and how regularly each was taken over the period you choose, ready to print or share. Cadence also lets you keep track of upcoming appointments alongside your medication. Everything stays on your phone until you choose to share it.
Frequently asked questions
Do I need to bring my actual medication?
It helps if your list is long or you are unsure of names. Otherwise an accurate list is usually enough.
What if I forget a question?
Most clinics have a way to send a follow-up question. Ask how before you leave.
Should I bring a support person?
If you would like one, yes. Let the clinic know if you need an interpreter.
Cadence is a free medication reminder app for iPhone and Apple Watch. It is not medical software and does not give medical advice. Cadence Pro is a one-time purchase, with no subscription.
