Questions about first visit to a new Dr/NP/PA

Lately, I have been getting a good number of new patients in my practice and I have been amazed at how many comment that they found it so ¨great¨ that I gave them the chance to speak to me and get to know me before even scheduling an exam or even going into the exam room, so they had a chance to decide if I was ¨right¨ for them. I always allow a prospective new patient the chance to meet with and speak to me. My thinking is that this is a working relationship, and frankly my ego is not so big that I even consider it an interview from the patient to see if I get the job! (Just for clarity, I do not charge for this unless an exam is done, and I will generally afford a person 15 to 30 minutes of my time without charging a consultation fee. If specific medical advice is requested then I do consider it a consult. If it is just a conversation on general terms to see if we´re a match, no charge)

Am I crazy for doing this? I relish the chance to speak to a person and get the opportunity to know them, and they to know me.

I would never allow a provider to have me in an exam room prepped and ready, on the table and then start to find out if they were right for me.

The time for this discourse is in my office, in a meeting, not in the exam room where a patient is generally nervous and feeling vulnerable. Worse, I have had women tell me that providers have even told them essentially, ¨Well, let´s do the exam and then we can talk¨. WTF?

What have your experiences been, and what are your feelings on the matter?

I've been to several doctors that offer to meet first as you described. But I've never taken them up on it. I like the idea of meeting the medical professional first, but for some reason I've never actually done that. I always just jump in with a new patient appointment instead. For me it's probably just a scheduling issue. It's difficult enough to find time for a doctor's appointment (taking time off work and such), let alone finding time for two appointments -- one of which is just to get acquainted. But I have fired many doctors after that first visit. In a lot of cases, I've had to switch doctors because of insurance changes. I'll choose a doctor from the provider directory and make an appointment for a full physical exam. If that first exam isn't thorough enough for my taste, or if I just don't like the doctor -- that's pretty much my last visit to them.

Although I agree with Jimmy and that time isn't always so easily available...................I do like the idea of having the opportunity to meet a new doctor prior to spending that time and money to find out it isn't some one that's right for me. How does a person know if a physician offers this pre-appointment option though ?

How does a person know if a physician offers this pre-appointment option though ?

They might mention it on their web site somewhere. Either that or call the office, tell them you're interested in being a new patient of theirs and ask if the doctor you've chosen allows you to come in for a meet-and-greet appt first.

I've never found a medical professional who offers this considerate service. It's always about the Benjamins and ego. Even psychologists have always charged for that meeting.

Beccarnmommy,

I completely agree with you 100% and beyond that! Very well written post!

Sadly, there are those who do not afford this to their new patients for various reasons they claim, though I call many of those reasons poor excuses! I have been blessed to have been given this opportunity with the majority of a new Dr, PA, NP I am consulting with. I have also observed that in many clinics where the private office is not available for this, there is an exam room set up for this purpose.

Just my humble personal opinion.

Andie

Most of my doctors in the past have met with me first before telling me to undress but I haven't had a new doctor visit where the doctor only talks to me and I come back later for the exam. I had one doctor years ago who I did not meet before the exam. The nurse took me to the exam room, took my blood pressure and temp. and looked over my paperwork. Then she told me to strip completely and put on a gown that she took out of a drawer. That first time was a surprise and I did as she instructed. I was sitting bare butt on the exam table waiting for the doctor. When he came in, he introduced himself and sat in a chair facing me. My gown was short enough and he was sitting low enough that I was self conscious about sitting there while he asked me questions. It was awkward but not terrible or anything like that. I knew that he was going to see it all anyway and he did by the end. I could have been sitting there in my briefs and had the same feeling. I am not criticizing this doctor. He was okay otherwise and I was no newbie about physical exams. I had had many group physicals in school with all of us in our underpants only so I don't know why this experience was that memorable. I saw him a few times after that. Same experience and I got use to it.

Well my first family doctor I went to him mainly when I had a problem. my next family doctor that I choose myself I went to her for a get to know me and her visit but she also examined me because I was sick at the time. after that I did have one doctor where I was able to do a meet and greet with them to see if they were the right fit for me and it turned out that he was not the right doctor for me. the new doc I have now he did not do a meet and greet so I had to just sign up with him go to my first appointment and hope he was the fit. which that scared me some as I prefer a meet as greet as it a way to see if the doctor is the best fit for you. I feel that all doctors should allow the patient to do a meet and greet so not only the patient can get a feel for the doctor, but so also the doctor can get a feel for the patient and see what medical problems they have so they know that they will be dealing with, if and when the patient decides to go with them.

. . . . I was able to do a meet. . . . the new doc I have now he did not do a meet and greet . . . I prefer a meet as greet . . . . I feel that all doctors should allow the patient to do a meet and greet. . . .

That's called a consultation.

I do hope you expect to pay for those appointments

I only had one meet and greet last year and it lasted like 10 minutes and I never had to pay it

I think if you have time for this sort of thing, it is good. Once you have too many patients, you may not have time, but then again, maybe not be in a position to be able to take in new patients anyway.

For my child's pediatrician, we met with her first before the baby was born. The initial meeting gave us a good overview for baby care, how frequently to schedule visits, how administering the necessary shots plays out, all that good stuff that if you were a new parent like me, it was much needed.

What I like about you doing these initial meets is that anyone who may be concerned about how thorough you typically are, or are not, can find out befopre setting up that first exam. For example, if you typically do not perform thorough genital exams unless there's a pre-existing condition or a specified issue and the patient expects to have thorough genital exams annually, they can determine if you're right for them. i recently read about one younger than 50 patient with a family history of colorectal cancer who was upset that his doc did not perform a DRE, & was considering finding a new doc who would. So this way, by having these up front discussions with prospective new patients, patients can know what to expect, and you as a doctor know what your patient needs/expects from you.

And what happens with new patients? You start files, gather all that family history, forms, documentation, all that good stuff. And then after one exam, the patient decides you're not right for him/her. All that time & resourcing to put together paperwork that will now go to the trash can.

I totally agree with you here healthy. my new family doctor I have now did not have me fill out any paperwork at all, the only paper I filled out was if I wanted to get all my visit summarys online so I said yes. but I gave the nurse all my meds and medical problems which was laid out on my kindle for her to see. and for my doc I gave him a list of how often I use my nebulizer for my asthma, a packet of 6 of my worst asthma attacks, what happens during some of my really bad migraines and picks of my eczema so h would have it all to look over. and he made a comment of needing my records and I said I have them here as I sent for them so had them to give to the doctor as well. so I was on top of it when I saw my new family doctor

I do like the idea of having a sit down prior to that first appointment if there is time available. I have never been afforded this particular opportunity but I think most doctors are flexible enough to realize they interact with a varied socioeconomic demographic and adjust their approach appropriately. I like and respect my current PCP enough. When I have needed a referral I have been seen by doctors who have been just as respectful...With one exception.

I only had one meet and greet last year and it lasted like 10 minutes and I never had to pay it

momofcute,

With this consultation, did you also receive any sort of physical exam? If you did, I would be shocked, in almost complete disbelief if your consultation was not included in some sort of fashion in the bill. You may not have paid out any extra, though your insurance would then be the one picking up the extra charge. A physician bills for time along with services provided during an appointment. Since I cannot look at your EOB, and I am not familiar with your insurance and the billing practice of this physician, I cannot accurately comment on how exactly it was billed. Very few physicians do a consult for free.

Andie

Well andie the doctor that did the meet and greet saw me in an exam room just to get to know me. we talked about why I was looking for a new doctor and all that stuff he answered some of my questions that I had. and during the interview I learned that he was not the doctor for me as he said my partner left me beginning of the year here and they did not replace them yet so I am taking care of all the patients and I am stressed and overworked, so he was to passive and swamped so I knew he was not the one for me. there was no exam given it was just talking to get to know each other and get a feel for him and how he does stuff. and as for insurance I do not know if he charged anything or not as I never got a bill or anything so if he charged something then my insurance company must have paid for it.

I would think meet & greets would be especially beneficial for women patients, to optimize their comfort for that first exam, which can be a delicate, sensitive experience. So i think it's good if they meet first, that the option is made available.

Guy patients, for the most part, can just kind of wing it & be like "yeah, whatever" (and i know that's a dangerous generalization, but you get the point)

My current doctor hasn't ever seen me in more than a pair of paper shorts. My doctor was recommended to me and I scheduled a physical with him without ever having met him before. If this was someone I was going to see on a regular basis (i.e. monthly) a meet and greet would make sense, but it wouldn't be necessary for someone who I'm going to see for a yearly physical and the rare illness.

This thread makes me tired. Thank god, as an emergency physician I don't have to sell myself except at the time of the history and physical. It's just refreshing to not have to sell myself prior to this. That said, whether the patient likes me or not, I always give everyone the best shot. My goal is to do the best that I can with each case. I simply can't do any advanced sale of myself. There isn't time enough in the day for anything more. Sorry folks.