How to Prepare for Your Visit
You’re more likely to feel in control of your health by actively participating in your health care. This means preparing to get the most out of your visit.
New patients are usually referred to us by their primary care physician or other specialists, but some patients are self-referred. If you have received diagnostic testing of any kind related to this visit, please bring the test results with you or have them forwarded to us prior to your visit.
If you are insured with an HMO, your primary care physician will provide a written referral that includes his or her diagnosis for referral.
Plan to arrive early to fill out any required paperwork and to gather your thoughts before you meet with the nurse and specialist.
Please bring the following items with you to your scheduled appointment:
- Diagnostic testing results related to your visit (if you have them). You may ask your other providers to send us this information.
- Photo ID
- Insurance cards or documents for other coverage
- Written referral, if required by your plan
- A list of all medications and supplements you’re currently taking
Some additional tools you can use outside of your appointments — and that you may wish to bring along:
- A journal or notebook to record information you learn in your appointments
- Outside of your appointments, use your notebook to record symptoms and changes in your condition
- Prior to your first visit, write down the most important issues or symptoms you want to make sure the doctor understands
- Take some time to understand the genetic components of your condition. Has anyone in your immediate or extended family dealt with a similar neurological disorder?
- If you feel you might have trouble remembering all of the details, bring along a patient advocate (a friend or family member) who can help gather information and ask questions.