When you need to see a doctor in the United States, you usually start by making an appointment. You can call the doctor’s office or book online. Many people have health insurance, so they tell the office their insurance provider and member ID number when they schedule the visit.
On the day of the appointment, you arrive at the doctor’s office or clinic a little early. At the front desk, you check in and show your insurance card and ID. You may need to fill out some paperwork if it is your first visit or if anything has changed. Then you sit in the waiting room until the nurse or medical assistant calls your name.
The nurse takes you to an exam room. She checks your weight, height, blood pressure, and sometimes your temperature. She also asks about your symptoms, allergies, current medications, and medical history. After that, you wait a short time for the doctor.
The doctor comes in, greets you, and asks questions about how you are feeling. He or she listens to your heart and lungs with a stethoscope, looks in your ears, throat, and eyes, and may press on your stomach or check other areas. The doctor may order tests such as blood work, a urine test, or an X-ray if needed.
At the end of the visit, the doctor explains what might be wrong and gives you a treatment plan. This can include a prescription for medicine, advice about rest or diet, or a referral to a specialist. You go back to the front desk to pay any co-pay or settle the bill. Then you pick up your prescription at a pharmacy or have it sent there electronically.
Going to the doctor can feel stressful when you are sick, but knowing the steps — making an appointment, checking in, seeing the nurse and doctor, and following the treatment plan — makes the visit easier and helps you get better faster.