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Top List of Reasons People Go To the Doctor

Dana Sparks

Top reasons to visit your primary care provider

October 7, 2019
Mary Leigh Meyer
Healthy Living , Medicine , Show on VR homepage

A primary care provider is often the first health care professional you see when you have a question. In some instances, they can consult and treat in-house, but other times they refer you to the appropriate specialist to get more focused help. Primary care physician Jason R. McKnight, MD, clinical assistant professor at the Texas A&M College of Medicine , family medicine physician at Texas A&M Health Family Care , explains some of the most important ways your primary care provider can help you live your healthiest life.

Chronic disease management

“Your primary care provider can help coordinate the care required for your chronic diseases,” McKnight said. “They can prescribe refills for your medications and manage your conditions long-term, even if you also see a specialist for these conditions..”

Your primary care provider can treat and monitor a number of chronic diseases and conditions including:

Hypertension
Kidney disease
Heart disease
Post-stroke treatment
High cholesterol
Musculoskeletal issues like arthritis
Skin issues like psoriasis
Lung diseases and conditions like asthma and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD)

If your chronic disease warranted a visit to a specialist, once your chronic disease is stable, primary care providers can coordinate your care to minimize the number of specialist appointments you need after the fact. For example, if you have a heart attack, you will regularly see your cardiologist afterward. However, once you are stabilized on the proper medications, the cardiologist would likely refer you back to your primary care provider for continued monitoring and treatment. However, McKnight says most chronic diseases do not require specialist intervention.

Referrals to medical specialists

Although your primary care provider can sometimes prevent the need to see certain specialists, they can also recommend and suggest qualified specialists. Your primary care provider can also help coordinate treatment among specialists.

“Sometimes when you are seeing multiple specialists, it can be hard for them to treat you when they may not necessarily realize how else you are being treated and for what conditions,” McKnight said. “Your primary care provider will know who you see for specialty care and what medications you take, whereas a specialist may not necessarily realize you are seeing multiple specialists who are prescribing you medications with side effects outside of their specialty.”

Acute care visits for sudden illness or injury

Whether a fever or broken arm, many people first visit their primary care provider. “When in doubt, call or visit your primary care provider if you think something is wrong,” McKnight said. “They may refer you to a specialist, but they may not need to refer you anywhere.” For example, in the case of a broken arm, McKnight said that a lot of simple fractures can be managed by your primary care provider.

Unless it is life-threatening, many people first visit their primary care provider for help treating influenza (flu), pneumonia, stomach virus and any other negative change in health status.

Annual exam or physical exam

From newborn and well-child exams to Medicare-required annual exams to a sports physical , your primary care provider can see you. An annual exam often includes bloodwork and screenings for various diseases and conditions.

“Many people opt to do their whole annual exam at their primary care provider’s office, but some women chose to see an OB-GYN for their pelvic exam,” McKnight said. “It does not matter which you do as long as you are getting the proper screenings and treatments for your age group.”

Reduction of hospital and emergency department visits

“Some people will rush to the emergency department (ED) for something small, but their primary care office can help them,” McKnight said. “If you think you need to go to the ED and it is not a life-threatening situation, you can call your primary care office. They can confirm whether you need to go to the ED or can get a day-of visit at your primary care office.” If your primary care provider does send you to the ED, sometimes they can call ahead and get you evaluated more quickly.

On a similar note, McKnight encourages everyone to be careful if they decide to visit a freestanding emergency room for something that can be treated at their primary care provider’s office or an urgent care clinic . “Sometimes patients get confused between what should be best treated at a freestanding emergency room, urgent care clinic or primary care provider’s office,” he said. “Insurance can classify them differently, so the difference in cost can often be quite large.”

Good continuity of care

If you see the same provider for the majority of your health care needs, then the two of you can develop a relationship,” McKnight said. “Your provider will start to know you even better, which leads to more trusting and communicative patient-provider interactions.” They will have a better understanding of your life and lifestyle, so they can better inform you of the best course of health care for you.

Similarly, a provider who knows you and your family may have a better grasp on your family medical history, which will also inform them of the best type of care for you.

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The information and opinions expressed on this site provide general information relating to health and are not intended to constitute advice or specific recommendations relating to any particular person, ailment, disease or condition or otherwise substitute for a consultation with a qualified medical doctor. Texas A&M Health encourages you to seek the advice of your own health care provider relating to any health concerns.

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Top 10 Most Common Reasons to Visit the Doctor and Tips for Prevention

Jun 12, 2017 | Employee Benefits , Wellness

wellness, prevention, doctor, visit, insurance, health, benefits, employee, visit the doctor

Having to take time off work to visit the doctor is no one’s idea of fun. Fortunately, there are steps you can take now to improve your health and your family’s health so you can minimize the number of trips you take to the doctor’s office each year. The following is a list of the top reasons people in the United States go to the doctor, according to a study by the Mayo Clinic.

1. Skin Disorders

Skin disorders refer to conditions such as acne, cysts and dermatitis. While skin disorders most often affect patients 18 years and younger, adults can be affected too. In fact, 20 percent of acne cases occur in adulthood.

While the occasional pimple is part of life, there are steps you can take to keep your skin healthy. For instance, avoid touching your face throughout the day and make sure to take a shower after exercising to keep pores clean. Use fragrance-free soaps and cleansers and make sure you keep your skin from getting too dry.

2. Joint Pain and Osteoarthritis

One-third of Americans report having joint pain. Joint pain can be caused by various conditions including osteoarthritis—the most common form of arthritis in the United States—and often worsens with age. While osteoarthritis can affect any joint in your body, it most frequently affects the joints in your knees, hips, hands and spine.

Staying active, eating well and maintaining a healthy weight are all key to maintaining joint function. When exercising, try to mix in low-impact exercises like the elliptical machine and swimming, since high-impact exercises like running can lead to joint pain. If you feel pain, ice the affected area to minimize tissue swelling and allow your body time to rest.

3. Back Problems

Back problems plague millions of America each year, and are one of the leading causes of disability. The pain may be a dull ache, shooting pain or a burning sensation. Treatment for back pain varies based on the type of injury and the nerves or joints affected.

One of the best ways to prevent back injuries is to have good posture. Good posture allows your muscles and ligaments to work properly and decreases your risk of injury. If your job involves sitting at a computer, avoid slouching forward and put your computer at eye level to avoid straining your neck by constantly looking down. Maintaining a healthy weight and exercising regularly, especially your core muscles, can improve spine health.

4. Cholesterol Problems

High cholesterol more than doubles your chances of developing heart disease—the leading cause of death for adults in the United States. Cholesterol is a waxy substance found in fats in your blood, which your body needs to function. Having too much cholesterol, though, causes walls to build up in your arteries, making it difficult for blood to circulate.

Keep cholesterol levels in check by eating a well-balanced diet that is high in fruits, vegetables, whole grains and fish, and by limiting red meat and sugar. Being active and avoiding tobacco can also help promote heart health. Scheduling preventive care visits and following screening recommendations from your doctor can help catch cholesterol issues before they become severe.

5. Upper Respiratory Problems (not including asthma)

Upper respiratory problems can occur at any time, but are most common in winter and fall. The upper respiratory system includes the nose, sinuses and throat. Symptoms often include congestion, facial pain or pressure, a runny or stuffy nose, a cough and a sore throat.

Keep your immune system healthy by washing your hands frequently, not sharing food and drinks with others, and not smoking. If your home is dry, use a humidifier to help you breathe easier. Also, sneezing or coughing into the bend of your elbow can help stop the spread of germs.

6. Anxiety, Bipolar Disorder and Depression

Mental health disorders like anxiety, bipolar disorder and depression affect millions of Americans each year. Mental health disorders can be difficult to treat and are frequent reasons for doctor’s visits.

While genetics and the environment play a role in the development of certain mental health disorders, effectively managing stress and getting frequent, mild exercise can help promote good mental health. If you or someone you know is struggling with anxiety or depression, talk about how you are feeling with someone you trust. Do not be ashamed to get help.

7. Chronic Neurology Disorders

Neurological disorders are diseases of the brain, spine and the nerves that connect them. There are hundreds of neurological diseases, including Parkinson’s disease, Alzheimer’s disease and epilepsy.

While many neurological diseases are not preventable, there are steps you can take now to promote overall brain health, which may help slow or delay the progression of certain neurological disorders. For instance, keeping your brain active by completing puzzles, word games or reading can be beneficial. In addition, eating a healthy diet, staying socially active, exercising frequently and getting enough sleep can help keep your mind sharp.

8. High Blood Pressure

High blood pressure, also referred to as hypertension, is a chronic medical condition in which artery walls are exposed to constant, steady pressure causing the heart’s muscles to weaken. Hypertension can lead to heart attacks, strokes and kidney failure, and it also increases one’s risk for developing blood clots.

High blood pressure can be avoided by eating a heart-healthy diet consisting of fruits, vegetables, nuts and fish. Being active, abstaining from tobacco and maintaining a healthy weight can also help promote heart health.

9. Headaches and Migraines

Headaches refer to pain in any region of the head. Migraines are a type of headache that causes recurrent, throbbing pain which usually occurs on one side of the head. It can last for hours or days and can sometimes cause nausea, vomiting and sensitivity to light and sound.

Although much is still unknown about the causes of headaches and migraines, some common triggers include stress, sensory stimuli (bright lights, loud sounds, etc.), weather changes and alcohol (especially wine). Certain foods like aged cheeses and food additivities like aspartame have also been identified as potential triggers. In addition, maintaining a consistent sleep schedule, getting regular exercise and limiting stress can reduce the frequency and severity of headaches and migraines.

10. Diabetes

Approximately 29.1 million Americans have diabetes, and the rate of new cases continues to grow each year. There are two main types of diabetes: type 1 and type 2 diabetes. Left untreated, diabetes can lead to heart disease, strokes, amputations and kidney disease.

While type 1 diabetes can’t be prevented, type 2 diabetes can be avoided by exercising regularly and eating nutritiously. Maintaining a healthy weight is the biggest thing you can do to prevent type 2 diabetes. If you already have diabetes, it is important that you are vigilant in monitoring your blood sugar so complications do not arise.

What You Can Do

While environmental and genetic factors play a factor in the development of diseases, living a healthy lifestyle now can improve your well-being for years to come. Plus, good primary care can help keep any health issues from progressing. If you haven’t already, check to see if your company has an on-site clinic option for primary care and take advantage if it is available to you.

Click here for more information about on-site clinics.

This information is abstracted from Zywave’s “Live Well, Work Well: Top 10 Most Common Reasons for Going to the Doctor” article.

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Mayo Clinic IDs the top 10 reasons for doctors' visits

Skin ailments, joint disorders, and back pain—not life-threatening conditions—are the most common reasons for visits to U.S. health care providers, according to a new Mayo Clinic Proceedings study .

For the study, Mayo Clinic researchers used data from the Rochester Epidemiology Project—a comprehensive medical records linkage system—to categorize the medical diagnoses of Olmsted County, Minn., residents who had visited the Mayo Clinic, the Olmstead Medical Center , and the Rochester Family Medicine Clinic between January 2005 and December 2009. They found that the 10 most common diagnoses were:

Skin disorders;
Osteoarthritis and joint disorders;
Back problems;
Cholesterol problems;
Upper respiratory conditions, excluding asthma;
Anxiety, depression, and bipolar disorder;
Chronic neurologic disorders;
High blood pressure;
Headaches and migraines; and

"Much research already has focused on chronic conditions, which account for the majority of health care utilization and costs in middle-aged and older adults," says lead study author Jennifer St. Sauver, adding, "Surprisingly, the most prevalent non-acute conditions in our community were not chronic conditions related to aging, such as diabetes and heart disease, but rather conditions that affect both genders and all age groups."

For instance, nearly half the study population suffered from a skin disorder—such as acne, cysts, or dermatitis—in the five-year period (Perry, Minneapolis Post , 1/17; Mayo Clinic release , 1/16).

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Posted on January 22, 2013

Updated on March 17, 2023

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How to Get the Most Out of a Doctor Visit

You should have a detailed plan with seven key components..

Posted March 20, 2023 | Reviewed by Ekua Hagan

What Is Assertiveness?
Find counselling near me
Planning is part of a "take-charge" approach that one may not usually bring to doctor visits, but where it can make an important difference.
Specific tactics are needed to serve all the goals of a doctor visit; these should be formulated in advance and not improvised.
The goals of a doctor visit should be beyond simply "getting better."

Scheduling a doctor visit? Maybe you have some persistent symptoms you cannot explain, for example, you suspected COVID but tested negative? Or, maybe the pandemic is receding in your area and you are overdue for a long-delayed checkup? Time to make a plan. Here’s how and why.

What’s Your Plan?

Your plan should include (1) a set of goals for the visit beyond simply getting better; (2) a clear description of what brings you to the doctor visit; (3) your own theory of the problem , and any observations you have that you may think relevant; (4) a means of recording what goes on at the visit; (5) questions , lots of questions; (6) a follow-up component; (7) the proper attitude and approach .

Doctor visits can serve multiple important goals. Obviously, if you are feeling sick, you have the goal of getting better. But there is much more to gain from visiting your doctor, or there should be.

Presumably, you are not sure whatever is bothering you will resolve on its own, and you hope your doctor can prescribe something to eliminate it. So, treatment is a goal that is instrumental to getting better. An accurate diagnosis, in turn, may identify the appropriate treatment. But the logic there is not as tight as you may think.

For example, after a fairly extensive physical exam, imaging, and even blood tests, I was once given three possible diagnoses for lower back pain: degenerative disc disease, arthritis, or soft tissue damage. I was then told that it didn’t matter which was correct; whatever was causing the pain, the treatment of choice was physical therapy .

Still, you would like to have a diagnosis, since knowing what is going on may have future benefits. In fact, it might prove useful to obtain more than one. Medicine is part art, part science. It is not a bad idea, once given a diagnosis, to ask: “OK, that is the most likely explanation for what’s going on, but if it turns out not to be that, what is your next best explanation?” This may help to prepare you for the eventuality, however unlikely, that the initial diagnosis is wrong, in which case something else may be going on that would respond to a different treatment.

If and when you do obtain a treatment recommendation, you want information on the prescription’s likely efficacy and side effects, and the signs and symptoms of each: Will you know if it is working and, if so, how, and how long might it take? What kinds of effects should you be on the alert for?

You also want to know if there is anything you can do behaviorally to help with the problem: rest, increase hydration, eat certain foods and avoid others, reduce stress , use over-the-counter or home remedies, and so forth.

Problem Description

Take notes on your symptoms. How do they feel, how long ago did they start, when and under what conditions do they occur, and how long do they last? What seems to trigger them or make them worse? What, if anything relieves them? Keep a log with all this and other information that might be relevant.

Your Theory

What do you think is going on? Were you exposed to someone with a potentially contagious infection? Does it resemble something you or someone you know had before? If so, what was it, and what helped? Don’t give yourself cyberchondria by Googling and Googling until you are terrified of the possible diagnoses, but don’t keep your head in the sand either. Use a few reputable medical websites and see what the most likely conditions are that fit your symptoms and for which you may have well-established risk factors like gender , age, and family history.

Record the Visit

Ask if it is ok to record the visit on your cell phone (there are many free apps for this). Or take notes on your phone or another device. If you do not use a note-taking app, you can simply enter the notes into a text or email message addressed to yourself. Bring a friend or family member who can help you take notes.

Ask Questions

Request a definition for any unfamiliar terms or phrases. Do not hesitate to ask your provider to repeat something you may have missed. Why? When? For how long? You want details. Get the full picture. If you are given a printout with a visit summary, go over it and ask any questions you may have about it before you leave.

While you are there, your doctor may ask if you are up-to-date on relevant vaccines. Sure, maybe you got your COVID vaccine. But what about the flu, pneumonia, shingles, tetanus, and so forth? And screening procedures: for example, the digital prostate exam for men, and mammography for women. Keep records of vaccines and screens, and if your doctor does not bring these up, you should.

Should you come back? When or under what conditions? How can you reach the doctor if things get unexpectedly worse? Is there an online patient portal? Can you call and leave a message instead? If so, how long will it take to hear back, and who will you hear back from?

You may need to see a specialist. You might be surprised at the different levels of medical specialization. For example, when my primary care physician suspected I had a form of leukemia, she recommended I see a hematologist/oncologist, a physician specializing in blood cancers. I eventually learned that some hematologists/oncologists see patients with many different types of blood cancers, whereas others focus on a few, or even just one. You might need the first type of specialist to narrow down the possibilities (e.g., an oncologist, cardiologist, endocrinologist, or orthopedic surgeon who deals with a variety of conditions) but you later may benefit from someone with a focus on your specific problem.

Attitude and Approach

Take charge. This is your healthcare visit. You paid or arranged payment. It was not inexpensive. Don’t be either a “bad patient” or a “good patient." Be a smart, take-charge patient.

Hall, Judith A & Roter, Debra L. (2011). Physician-patient communication. Friedman, Howard S [Ed]. The Oxford handbook of health psychology. New York, NY, US: Oxford University Press, US; pp. 317-346. Retrieved from http://ovidsp.ovid.com/ovidweb.cgi?T=JS&PAGE=reference&D=psyc8&NEWS=N&A… .

Grady PA, Gough LL. Self-management: a comprehensive approach to management of chronic conditions. Am J Public Health. 2014 Aug;104(8):e25-31. doi: 10.2105/AJPH.2014.302041. Epub 2014 Jun 12. PMID: 24922170; PMCID: PMC4103232.

Laato, S., Islam, A. N., Islam, M. N., & Whelan, E. (2020). What drives unverified information sharing and cyberchondria during the COVID-19 pandemic?. European journal of information systems , 29 (3), 288-305.

Rhodes, Ryan E, Grant, Stina & de Bruijn, Gert-Jan. (2020). Planning and implementation intention interventions. Hagger, Martin S [Ed], Cameron, Linda D [Ed], Hamilton, Kyra [Ed], Hankonen, Nelli [Ed], Lintunen, Taru [Ed]. The handbook of behavior change. New York, NY, US: Cambridge University Press, US; pp. 572-585. https://doi.org/10.1017/9781108677318.039 .

Richard Contrada, Ph.D., is a Professor in the Department of Psychology at Rutgers, the State University of New Jersey. His primary research areas lie at the interface of psychology and health and include psychological stress, cognitive and emotional self-regulation, and health-related stigma.

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Make the most of your doctor visit

A visit with your health care provider is a good time to share health concerns and ask questions. Preparing ahead for your appointment can help you get the most from your time together.

When you see your provider, be honest about your symptoms and lifestyle habits . Ask questions to make sure you understand. Taking an active role in your health can help you get the best care possible.

How to Prepare

Before your visit, jot down your questions and concerns. You may want to ask things like:

Am I due for any screening tests?
Should I keep taking this medicine?
What could be causing my symptoms?
Do I have other treatment options?
Should I worry about my family medical history?

Also be sure to write down all medicines, vitamins, and supplements you take. Include over-the-counter medicines and herbal supplements as well. Bring this list with you to your appointment.

If you are having symptoms, write down details before the visit.

Describe your symptoms
Describe when and where they appear
Explain how long you have had symptoms and if they have changed

Put the notes in your purse or wallet so that you do not forget to bring them. You can also put the notes in your phone or in an email to your provider. Writing things down makes it easier to remember details at the time of your visit.

If you need support, invite a friend or family member to come with you. They can help you understand and remember what you need to do.

Make sure to have your insurance card with you at the time of your visit. Tell the office if your insurance has changed.

What to Share and ask

What you do and how you feel can affect your health. Here are some things you want to share.

Life changes. These may include:

Job changes
Family changes, such as death, divorce, or adoption
Threat or acts of violence
Planned trips outside of the country (in case you need shots)
New activities or sports

Medical history. Go over any past or current health conditions or surgeries. Tell your provider about any family history of disease.

Allergies. Tell your provider about any past or current allergies or any new allergy symptoms.

Medicines and supplements. Share your list at your appointment. Tell your provider if you are having any side effects from your medicines. Ask about special instructions for the medicines you take:

Are there possible interactions or side effects?
What is each medicine supposed to do?

Lifestyle habits. Be honest about your habits, your provider will not judge you. Alcohol and drugs can interfere with medicines or cause certain symptoms. Tobacco use puts you at risk for a number of health problems. Your provider needs to know about all of your habits in order to best treat you.

Symptoms. Share your notes about your symptoms. Ask your provider:

Which tests might help to find the problem?
What are the benefits and risks of tests and treatment options?
When should you call your provider if your symptoms do not improve?

Prevention. Ask if there are screening tests or vaccines you should have. Are there any lifestyle changes you should make? What can you expect for results?

Follow-up. Ask your provider when you should schedule more appointments.

After Your Visit

Your provider may want you to:

See a specialist
Have a test
Take a new medicine
Schedule more visits

For the best results, follow your provider's instructions. Take medicines as directed, and go to any follow-up appointments.

Write down any new questions about your health, medicines, or treatment. Continue to keep a record of any symptoms and all of your medicines.

When to Call the Doctor

You should contact your provider when:

You have side effects from medicines or treatments
You have new, unexplained symptoms
Your symptoms get worse
You are given new prescriptions from another provider
You want the results of a test
You have questions or concerns

Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality (AHRQ) website. Before your appointment: questions are the answer. www.ahrq.gov/patients-consumers/patient-involvement/ask-your-doctor/questions-before-appointment.html . Reviewed December 2020. Accessed August 8, 2022.

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention website. See a doctor before you travel. wwwnc.cdc.gov/travel/page/see-doctor . Updated January 28, 2022. Accessed August 8, 2022.

National Institute of Health website. Talking to your doctor. www.nih.gov/institutes-nih/nih-office-director/office-communications-public-liaison/clear-communication/talking-your-doctor . Updated April 25, 2020. Accessed August 8, 2022.

Review Date 8/11/2022

Updated by: Linda J. Vorvick, MD, Clinical Professor, Department of Family Medicine, UW Medicine, School of Medicine, University of Washington, Seattle, WA. Also reviewed by David C. Dugdale, MD, Medical Director, Brenda Conaway, Editorial Director, and the A.D.A.M. Editorial team.

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What brings patients to your office-and not the specialty office down the street? Insights in this slideshow.

Why do patients visit primary care offices? For which conditions are they more likely to visit a surgical or medical specialty office-or a hospital outpatient or emergency department?The CDC’s FastStats on Ambulatory Care Use and Physician Office Visits provides lots of answers in “Selected patient and provider characteristics for ambulatory care visits to physician offices and hospital outpatient and emergency departments: United States, 2009-2010.”The slides that follow offer a closer look at the primary problems that bring patients to your office.

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5 Ways to Make the Most of a Doctor’s Appointment Right Now

By Bonnie Darves

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It’s Monday at 11 a.m., and you have a visit set for 3 p.m. with your primary physician . You plan to ask your doctor about a recent knee injury and intermittent headaches, but you only mentioned knee pain when you made the appointment. You’ve put a reminder note in your cellphone to also mention the headaches, but that’s as far as you’ve gotten.

What’s wrong here? For one, you’ve only given your doctor part of the picture, and that means you’ll spend the first few minutes of the visit filling in the details before you and your doctor can start discussing a diagnosis and care plan. Second, the office is likely preparing for a single-issue visit and has allotted your doctor’s time accordingly.

Whether you’re making an appointment for your annual wellness check or a new health issue, preparing yourself—and the practice staff—in advance can help make the difference between a satisfying, productive medical visit and a frustrating one. Below, you’ll find some guidance for making the most of your doctor’s visit —whether it’s in person or virtual.

1. Think big picture about your health, not just your immediate needs.

Preparing a list of your health concerns for an annual visit or writing down details about a bothersome new symptom are good starting points. It can also be helpful to perform a brief health self-assessment to prioritize your medical concerns, says John Wasson , M.D., emeritus professor of community and family medicine and longtime researcher with the Dartmouth Institute for Health Policy and Clinical Practice in Lebanon, New Hampshire. Dr. Wasson helped to create the What Matters Index at How’s Your Health , a brief confidential questionnaire meant to help people identify various potential issues to discuss with their doctors.

Thinking through your overall health prior to your appointment in addition to your specific concerns can help increase your health-confidence level, which Dr. Wasson points to as an important aspect of navigating medical care. Health confidence is an indicator of how capable patients feel at managing their health conditions . Research has shown that higher health-confidence levels improve the engagement of patients in their care and the communication between doctor and patient during visits. Health confidence doesn’t exist in a vacuum—many factors can impact it, including your socioeconomic status and the quality of the care you receive. But spending time thinking about your health before your appointment may help you increase your health confidence and better advocate for your needs.

2. Brief the medical staff on your needs so they can allot enough time for your visit.

Most physician practices set aside an amount of time for your appointment that reflects the visit’s expected “complexity,” in health care terminology. An annual or preventive visit might be scheduled for 30 to 45 minutes, for instance, and a problem recheck—to see how a wound is healing or whether antibiotics knocked out an infection—for 10 to 15 minutes, Dr. Wasson explains. A new-problem visit, when the patient has requested an appointment for perhaps a skin rash or a possible urinary tract infection, might be allocated 15 or 20 minutes. A third type of visit is transactional—you’re going in for a test or procedure—and its length varies depending on the test or procedure in question. “If you use the What Matters Index, and you know how much time is allotted for your visit, then you might be able to detect and remedy a mismatch before you get there,” Dr. Wasson says.

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It’s helpful to have some sense of what goes on behind the scenes in your doctor’s office if possible so that you can request the right type of visit. “Some organizations place constraints on the amount of time providers are given with each patient,” Matthew Goldman , M.D., a family medicine specialist at the Cleveland Clinic in Ohio, tells SELF. “Ideally, the more time the better. But because a lot of people are often seeking care from a single provider at a time, constraints must be placed to avoid long wait times.”

To avoid a mismatch between the practice’s expectations and your own, Dr. Goldman suggests preparing a list of concerns, prioritized by what’s most pressing, that you want your doctor to address. Ideally, you would share that information in advance with the scheduler or in a secure message via the online portal, if you have access to one. That helps ensure that you get the attention you need and deserve, Dr. Goldman says, by making the encounter as efficient as possible.

Even if you’re not able to share your list of concerns with the practice staff in advance, make sure you know how long your visit is supposed to be. “It’s helpful for the patient to ask, how long is this visit?” Mathew Devine , D.O., associate medicine professor at the University of Rochester Medical Center in Rochester, New York, and medical director of Highland Family Medicine, tells SELF. “They know they’re supposed to arrive at 11:45, but does that mean the visit is 15 minutes or 20 or 45 minutes? Patients should be aware of that.”

3. If possible, be extremely detailed when you brief the practice staff.

At a typical doctor’s office, the front-desk staff, nurses, and medical assistants are all key players in queueing up your visit. So let the staff help you by providing them as much detail as possible.

“By letting the schedulers, medical assistant, and nurses know what’s going on ahead of the visit, the physician has time to review the chart and focus on potential causes—medications or previous medical history, for example—that might be contributing to the patient’s concerns,” Dr. Goldman tells SELF. “I suggest that patients dedicate time to writing out their concerns and then, if possible, elaborate on each concern. Create a timeline or big picture of when the issue started and the treatments you’ve tried.”

The better informed the doctor is, the better the visit may go. Dr. Devine describes an “A+” experience involving a patient who’d been in an accident. The patient was managing several different health care providers and services, and the day before her visit, she sent, through the portal, an update on how she was doing and what she wanted to talk about in the visit. “I have the update and the agenda, so once we get in the room, I’m cooking,” Dr. Devine says. “It’s amazing when patients are prepared like that.” But it’s also unusual; in his experience, only 10% of patients prepare and bring a list to the visit. There are many valid reasons why it might not be possible for you to provide that kind of detailed update beforehand, such as a lack of time. But if you’re able to do this, it can be really helpful.

If the visit will be virtual , preparation is especially crucial. Try to make sure you have all pertinent information on hand and available to the doctor in advance. This includes not only your medications and a timeline of your concerns but also images of the area you’re having an issue with—if that’s applicable and doable. Ideally, it helps if you also access the virtual platform before the scheduled visit start time to make sure it's working smoothly, Dr. Goldman tells SELF. “Technical glitches can be a challenge, so ensuring a working connection, camera, and access to the application before the visit starts can help prevent issues when it is time for the visit,” he says.

4. Understand that your visit agenda and the doctor’s might differ.

If you show up with an eight-item list, the doctor might not be able to address all your concerns in one visit. Also, keep in mind that the doctor will want to focus on any potentially serious issue first. “Sometimes, my patient’s number one problem they want to talk about is different than mine,” Dr. Devine says. The patient might be worried about a spot on her skin that he can tell isn’t cancerous , he explains, but he wants to start with the unintended weight loss that the patient mentioned in the portal before the visit. “I want to make sure the patient gets to talk about their agenda items, but there are some things where we have to meet in the middle,” he says.

If the patient has 12 things on their list, Dr. Devine resets expectations. “I say, ‘I see that you have a lot of things you want to talk about, but we can probably only talk about three to five in this visit. Which things are really important to you that you want to make sure we talk about today?’” he says. “Then I pick a few things that are important to me to address, and we go from there.” If you’re not able to fit it all into one visit, ask your doctor if you can address the remaining issues in a subsequent one.

5. Be prepared to share everything that concerns you upfront.

There’s a phenomenon in physician-patient encounters, the “hand on the doorknob.” That’s when the doctor thinks the visit has concluded and is getting ready to leave the room, but the patient raises an issue they haven’t previously divulged. When that happens, it’s problematic for both parties. The “by the way” problem might be an important health issue that should have been addressed early in the visit. Or the doctor may simply be out of time. Either way, the situation can make for a less than satisfying visit.

Dr. Devine has developed a method for preventing that dilemma. At the start of the visit, he acknowledges the patient’s list, but then asks: Is there anything else? “If I don’t do that, I risk the hand on the doorknob,” he tells SELF. Even if your doctor doesn’t ask that type of question, try to remember how helpful it can be to bring up all of your concerns at the start of the visit instead of saving some for the end.

To ensure that your doctor’s visit is comprehensive, it’s also important to be prepared to discuss anything that’s concerning you—even something sensitive like possible exposure to sexually transmitted infections , Dr. Goldman advises. “These topics can be difficult to discuss for many potential reasons. I encourage patients to gather information on the topic to gain insight on potential causes, testing, and treatment options,” he says. “Oftentimes the office can provide this kind of information beforehand. Having a better understanding often helps reduce anxiety and stress.” If you want to do some online research into a health issue you’re having before you go to the doctor’s office, make sure you only use reliable sources such as the Mayo Clinic Symptom Checker , Dr. Wasson advises. (Or that you rely only on resources that draw from those kinds of sources.) It’s also worth asking if the practice can provide or direct you to information to review.

Finally, if you leave the office (or sign off from your appointment) and realize you’ve forgotten to ask about an issue, that’s okay. Get back in touch with your doctor’s office by calling or sending a message online. “That’s a great use for the portal. If you’re awake at 3 a.m. thinking about something you forgot, and you’re not having the worst chest pain of your life, send a note—and the nurse or doctor will get back to you,” Dr. Devine says. “Just remember that the portal isn’t for emergencies.”

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Ambulatory Care Use and Physician office visits

Data are for the U.S.

Percent of adults who had a visit with a doctor or other health care professional in the past year: 83.4% (2022)

Source: Interactive Summary Health Statistics for Adults: National Health Interview Survey, 2019-2022

Percent of children who had a visit with a doctor or other health care professional in the past year: 93.9% (2022)

Source: Interactive Summary Health Statistics for Children: National Health Interview Survey, 2019-2022

Number of visits: 1.0 billion
Number of visits per 100 persons: 320.7
Percent of visits made to primary care physicians: 50.3%

Source: National Ambulatory Medical Care Survey: 2019 National Summary Tables, table 1 [PDF – 865 KB]

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Ambulatory Health Care Data
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Types of Doctors and Medical Specialists: Which One Should You See?

Learn about the different types of primary care doctors and medical specialists.

This article is based on reporting that features expert sources.

Types of Medical Specialists

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Navigating the health care system is daunting, especially when determining which type of doctors or medical specialists to see for specific health concerns. Understanding the role of your primary care physician and various medical specialists will help you make informed decisions about your health care needs.

Learn about the different types of medical specialists and when you may need a referral to visit a specialty doctor.

Key Takeaways

There are various types of primary care doctors, including internal medicine doctors, family medicine doctors and pediatricians.
Primary care physicians can generally take care of a majority of medical cases.
You may need to see a specialist in certain circumstances, such as if you have a chronic or complex disease, lab results that need expert interpretation, an uncertain diagnosis or a need or want for a second opinion.
There are various medical specialists and subspecialists who are specifically trained in the diagnosis and treatment of certain types of diseases and conditions.

Primary Care Doctors

Primary care doctors are the entry point to the medical system. They provide a comprehensive approach to care, including prevention, treatment and rehabilitation of health issues. Primary care doctors also help coordinate care when you need to see a specialist.

Having a primary care doctor allows for an ongoing patient-doctor relationship built on mutual trust.

There are different types of primary care doctors :

Internal medicine doctors. Also called an internist , internal medicine doctors manage common and complex illnesses typically for adults and older adults.
Family medicine doctors. Family medicine doctors provide continuous care for people of all ages, backgrounds and conditions, often caring for entire families from birth through the end of life.
Pediatricians. Pediatricians are a type of primary care doctor specializing in the care of infants, children and adolescents. They provide primary and preventive care, including administering routine immunizations or providing acute care for common childhood illnesses , like ear infections, colds and flu and minor injuries.

Starting with a visit to your primary care physician is a great way to assess whether or not you need to see a specialist.

“Sometimes, I’ll say to the patient, ‘I can take care of that. You don’t need to go to the specialist at this point in time,’” says Dr. Theodore Strange, chair of medicine at Staten Island University Hospital, a division of Northwell Health, in New York City.

In fact, upwards of 95% of cases can be taken care of with good primary care , says Dr. David Cutler, a board-certified family medicine physician at Providence Saint John’s Health Center in Santa Monica, California. “The referral itself is the exception,” he adds.

When to See a Medical Specialist

However, there are a few reasons doctors may refer patients to a specialist, including:

If the patient has a certain chronic or complex disease with symptoms that may need specialist testing. For example, someone with a cardiac condition may need a stress test, or an individual with a GI condition may need a specific type of endoscopy or colonoscopy.
If you have the results of testing and need a more expert interpretation of the test to better treat the case.
If there’s a patient with an uncertain diagnosis. A primary care physician may refer you to a specialist if they have run out of options and need an expert with more specialized medical knowledge to diagnose and treat you.
If you need or want a second opinion .

Types of Medical Specialists You Might Need

Medical specialists have additional training and expertise in a specific area of medicine. Some even subspecialize, meaning they have even more specialized training within their specific field of medicine.

Below are several common medical specialists you might see.

Allergists-immunologist

What is an allergist-immunologist? An allergist-immunologist diagnoses, treats and manages disorders related to the immune system, immune deficiency diseases and adverse reactions to triggers, such as drugs or food.

What do allergists-immunologists treat? Allergist-immunologists treat allergic rhinitis (hay fever), food allergies , asthma, eczema, immunodeficiency disorders and other conditions related to the immune system.

Cardiologist

What is a cardiologist? Cardiologists deal with the prevention and treatment of disorders of the heart and vascular system.

What do cardiologists treat? Cardiologists treat cardiac issues, such as coronary artery disease , heart failure, arrhythmias and congenital heart defects.

Dermatologist

What is a dermatologist? Dermatologists are medical specialists trained in the diagnosis and management of conditions related to the skin, hair and nails.

What do dermatologists treat? Dermatologists treat a wide range of issues, including acne, rashes, eczema, psoriasis , skin infections and skin cancer . They may also treat patients with cosmetic concerns, such as wrinkles or acne scarring.

Endocrinologist

What is an endocrinologist? Endocrinologists are doctors who focus on disorders related to the endocrine system , which involves the glands and organs that make hormones.
What do endocrinologists treat? Endocrinologists treat patients with endocrine conditions and disorders, such as diabetes, thyroid disorders, metabolic abnormalities and hormonal imbalances .

Gastroenterologist

What is a gastroenterologist? Gastroenterologists , or GI doctors, manage diseases of the gastrointestinal tract, including your esophagus, stomach, bowels, liver, pancreas and gallbladder.

What do gastroenterologists treat? Gastroenterologists treat GI conditions, like cancer , hepatitis, irritable bowel syndrome, diarrhea or constipation, heartburn and ulcers.

Geriatric medicine specialist

What is a geriatric medicine specialist? Also referred to as geriatricians , specialty doctors of geriatric medicine have specialized knowledge related to aging and training in diagnostic, therapeutic, preventive and rehabilitative care for older adults.
What do geriatric medicine specialists treat? Geriatric physicians treat conditions that may commonly occur with aging , such as cognitive decline, mobility issues, chronic diseases and medication management. They often collaborate with other health care professionals, such as physical and occupational therapists, mental health professionals and social workers.

Hematologist

What is a hematologist? Hematologists focus on disorders related to the blood and blood-forming tissues and organs.

What do hematologists treat? Hematologists treat blood-related conditions, such as anemia , bleeding or clotting disorders and blood cancers.

Hospice and palliative medicine specialist

What is a hospice and palliative medicine specialist? Hospice and palliative medicine specialists provide care and support to patients and their families as the patient navigates living with a serious or terminal illness.
What do hospice and palliative medicine specialists treat? Hospice and palliative medicine specialists aim to prevent and alleviate suffering and to focus on improving quality of life for those with serious illness. This may include addressing physical, psychological, social and spiritual needs, such as administering pain management or end-of-life care . Common conditions treated include cancer, cardiovascular diseases and chronic obstructive pulmonary diseases, or COPD .

Infectious disease specialist

What is an infectious disease specialist? Infectious disease specialists diagnose and treat infections caused by bacteria, viruses, fungi or parasites.
What do infectious disease specialists treat? This medical specialist treats a wide range of infectious diseases, including HIV/AIDS , antibiotic-resistant infections and tuberculosis.
What is a geneticist? These medical specialists diagnose and treat genetic disorders or conditions. Geneticists have special training in the study of genes and heredity.
What do geneticists treat? Clinical geneticists care for patients in a clinical or research-based setting, and many geneticists counsel patients at risk for particular genetic disorders or cancers, such as sickle cell disease or hereditary breast and ovarian cancer .

Nephrologist

What is a nephrologist? Nephrologists are medical doctors who treat disorders of the kidney.

What do nephrologists treat? Nephrologists treat patients with kidney-related disorders , including kidney stones, chronic kidney disease and kidney failure. They often provide related medical management and may oversee dialysis, kidney transplantation and postoperative care, and managing diabetes or high blood pressure .

Neurologist

What is a neurologist? Neurologists are specialty doctors who diagnose and treat disorders of the nervous system, including the brain, spinal cord and nerves.

What do neurologists treat? Neurologists treat a range of disorders affecting the nervous system, including epilepsy, stroke, Alzheimer’s disease and other memory disorders , Parkinson’s disease and migraines.

Obstetrician-gynecologist

What is an OB-GYN? An obstetrician-gynecologist specializes in the medical and surgical care of women related to pregnancy and childbirth and disorders of the female reproductive system.

What do OB-GYNs treat? In addition to pregnancy and childbirth, OB-GYNs specialize in women’s health issues, such as menopause , contraception (birth control), infertility, endometriosis and polycystic ovarian syndrome, or PCOS.

What is an oncologist? Oncologists specialize in diagnosing and treating cancer .

What do oncologists treat? Oncologists manage several aspects of cancer care throughout the course of the disease and often consult with other specialists, like surgical oncologists, to develop treatment plans and provide care. These medical doctors often subspecialize in a particular type of cancer, such as breast oncology , neuro-oncology and radiation oncologists.

Ophthalmologist

What is an ophthalmologist? Ophthalmologists are eye doctors who are medically trained to manage all aspects of eye and vision care , including medical and surgical treatments.

What do ophthalmologists treat? General ophthalmologists treat diseases and disorders of the eye, such as cataracts, glaucoma, eye infections, diabetic retinopathy and refractive errors. They can also prescribe glasses and contact lenses.

Orthopedist

What is an orthopedist? A general orthopedist , or orthopedic surgeon , specializes in disorders and injuries of the musculoskeletal system, including bones, joints, ligaments, tendons and muscles.

What do orthopedists treat? Orthopedists may treat congenital deformities, traumatic or sports injuries, spinal disorders and degenerative diseases, as well as perform other types of orthopedic surgery .

Otolaryngologist

What is an otolaryngologist? Commonly referred to as ear, nose and throat doctors, or ENTs, otolaryngologists are medical and surgical specialty doctors who diagnose and treat diseases and disorders of the head and neck.

What do otolaryngologists treat? Conditions ENTs treat may include chronic sinusitis, allergic or non-allergic rhinitis, gastrointestinal reflux , tonsillitis and sleep apnea .

Physical medicine and rehabilitation physician

What is a physical medicine and rehabilitation physician? Also referred to as physiatrists , these doctors focus on the functioning of the whole patient, rather than specific organs or systems, to manage pain and restore function.
What do physical medicine and rehabilitation physicians treat? Physiatrists treat conditions which may limit a person’s ability to function, such as amputation, brain injury, cerebral palsy, Parkinson’s disease or a spinal cord injury.

Plastic surgeon

What is a plastic surgeon? Plastic surgeons subspecialize in performing procedures that restore, reconstruct or replace physical defects or functions.
What do plastic surgeons treat? Plastic surgeons handle reconstructive procedures, like cleft lip and palate repair or breast reconstruction after mastectomy, as well as cosmetic procedures, such as rhinoplasty or facelift.
What is a podiatrist? Podiatrists treat issues of the foot, ankle and lower extremities.
What do podiatrists treat? Podiatrists manage conditions or injuries related to the lower extremities, such as sprains and fractures, plantar fasciitis , bunions, hammertoes and foot and ankle arthritis.

Psychiatrist

What is a psychiatrist? A psychiatrist is a medical doctor who specializes in the evaluation and treatment of mental health, emotional and behavioral health disorders. They can prescribe medication and use other medical approaches to disease.
What do psychiatrists treat? Psychiatrists see patients with mental, addictive and emotional disorders, such as psychotic disorders, mood disorders, anxiety disorders and substance use disorders.

Psychologist

What is a psychologist? A psychologist is a mental health professional who treats mental, emotional and behavioral issues through therapy and counseling. Unlike psychiatrists, they cannot prescribe medication in most states. (Only Idaho, Illinois, Iowa, Louisiana and New Mexico allow psychologists with additional, specialized training to prescribe from an approved list of medications for certain emotional and mental health disorders, but they often collaborate with psychiatrists and other health providers.)
What do psychologists treat? Similar to psychiatrists, psychologists work with patients with a variety of mental health disorders . They may also see people without clinical disorders who are feeling stressed or anxious to help them cope more effectively.

Pulmonologist

What is a pulmonologist? Pulmonologists are medical specialists of the respiratory system.

What do pulmonologists treat? Pulmonologists manage serious or chronic diseases of the lungs and airways, such as emphysema, bronchitis , pneumonia, asthma and COPD.

Rheumatologist

What is a rheumatologist? Rheumatologists are specialized medical doctors who diagnose and treat disorders related to your joints, muscles and connective tissues.

What do rheumatologists treat? Rheumatologists treat musculoskeletal diseases and systemic autoimmune conditions – referred to as rheumatic diseases – such as rheumatoid arthritis , osteoarthritis, lupus, fibromyalgia and gout .

Sleep medicine specialist

What is a sleep medicine specialist? These medical specialists manage clinical sleep-related disorders and promote healthy sleeping habits.

What do sleep medicine specialists treat? Sleep medicine specialists use clinical assessment and physiologic testing to diagnose, manage and prevent sleep disorders , such as insomnia, narcolepsy, parasomnias, circadian rhythm disorders and sleep-related breathing disorders, like obstructive sleep apnea.

General surgeon

What is a general surgeon? General surgeons are trained in diagnosis, preoperative, operative and postoperative management in the nine primary components of surgery, which consist of the:

Abdominal and pelvic organs.
Breasts, skin and soft tissues.
Head and neck.
Cardiovascular system.
Endocrine system.
Surgical oncology.
Critical care and emergency surgery.

What do general surgeons treat? General surgeons can perform surgical procedures for a wide range of conditions, including appendectomies, hernia repairs and gallbladder removals.

What is a urologist? Urologists are doctors who deal with diseases of the male reproductive organs and the male and female urinary tract.

What do urologists treat? Urologists may treat kidney stones , urinary incontinence and erectile dysfunction .

Do You Need a Referral to See Specialists?

Whether or not you need a referral to see a specialist depends on your health insurance plan , your doctor or the type of specialist you’re trying to see.

Point of service, or POS, plans and health maintenance organizations, or HMOs, often require a primary care physician to work with your insurer for pre-approval to visit a specialist. The referral also likely needs to be for a specialist within your insurance network. If you’re unsure whether or not you need a referral, check with your insurance company first. Otherwise, your plan may not cover the care and you’ll get stuck with high out-of-pocket costs.

In addition to the patient’s health insurance coverage, symptoms , medical history and diagnostic testing and results, primary care physicians will likely take these factors into consideration when making a referral:

Accessibility . It's important for the specialist to be geographically accessible to the patient.
Availability . Some specialists can take months to make an appointment with, so referring doctors take their availability into consideration.
Coordination of care . When physicians are part of a broader health network, they’ll likely recommend a specialized doctor within the same network. One benefit is shared electronic medical records, which helps streamline follow-up coordination of care.

Patient preferences or needs . Doctors may discuss options with a patient, taking their particular values, personal preferences or individual needs into account to ensure the referral aligns with their goals.

The U.S. News Health team delivers accurate information about health, nutrition and fitness, as well as in-depth medical condition guides. All of our stories rely on multiple, independent sources and experts in the field, such as medical doctors and licensed nutritionists. To learn more about how we keep our content accurate and trustworthy, read our editorial guidelines .

Cutler is a board-certified family medicine physician at Providence Saint John’s Health Center in Santa Monica, California.

Strange is the chair of medicine at Staten Island University Hospital, a division of Northwell Health, in New York City.

Tags: women's health , men's health , children's health , senior health , health care , family health , doctors , patient advice

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United States: reasons for seeing a doctor virtually in 2023

As of 2023, more than 50 percent of patients in the United States reported that one of the main reasons for a virtual doctor visit was because it was easier and more convenient than in person. Roughly 43 percent of patients stated that speed was a primary factor in choosing a virtual medical appointment over an in-person one. Other reasons for virtually seeing a doctor included concerns about COVID-19 and other infections, difficulty getting to the doctor's office, and inability to miss work.

Share of reasons for virtual doctor visits in the United States in 2023

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United States

March 2022 to March 2023

2,400 respondents

18 years and older

Online survey

The question was worded in the source as: Why did you see your doctor virtually within the past year?*

Respondents who participated in a telemedicine visit in the past year.

Statistics on " Telemedicine "

Number of users of online doctor consultations worldwide 2017-2028
Penetration rate of online doctor consultations worldwide 2017-2028
Insured members using telehealth services worldwide in 2021, by region
Availability of telehealth/telemedicine services in 2021, by region and vendor
Prevalence of insurers offering telehealth services as of 2021, by region
Potential time saved through telemedicine worldwide 2023
Potential time saved for chronic patients through telemedicine worldwide 2023
Revenue in the Digital Health market Worldwide 2017-2027
Revenue of the online doctor consultations market worldwide 2017-2028
Digital services used to manage health in the U.S. 2016-2021
Physician practices with telehealth functions in the U.S. in 2020, by specialty
Most common type of telehealth visits in the U.S.2021
Preference of using telemedicine in the U.S. 2022, by type of care needed
United States: frequency of telemedicine utilization by physicians in 2023
United States: types of healthcare received virtually in 2023
Telehealth use and policies in Europe in 2022
Maturity of telehealth services offered in Europe in 2022
Satisfaction of telemedicine during the pandemic in Europe in 2021
Opinion after use of telehealth services in the United States 2021
United States: impact of virtual healthcare on patient satisfaction in 2023
Leading benefits to patients of using telehealth/telemedicine in the U.S. in 2021
Opinion on benefits of using telehealth services in the U.S. in 2020/21
Reasons for consumers to be more likely to use digital health in the U.S. 2021
Obstacles to the use of telehealth in the United States in 2021, by age
Satisfaction among physicians with telehealth in selected countries in 2022
Technologies with the biggest impact on healthcare in the U.S. and the UK
Common words used by physicians to describe telehealth in the U.S. 2021
Physicians' views in ensuring patient access to telemedicine in the U.S. 2023
Physicians' views on improvements to telehealth in the United States 2021
Share of telehealth visits made by physicians in selected countries in 2022
Opinion on issues and future telehealth use in the U.S and the UK in 2021
Clinicians who believed healthcare access at home will increase by 2031, by country
Clinicians' views on ease of access to remote monitoring tools in 2031, by country
Clinicians view on telehealth impacting empathy with patients in 2031, by country
Planned and implemented digital health technologies in the U.S. as of 2022
Virtual visits projected by physicians after the COVID-19 pandemic in the U.S. 2020
Feelings towards use of virtual health care visits in future in the U.S. as of 2022
Health services patients would like to remain after the pandemic in Canada in 2021

Other statistics that may interest you Telemedicine

Premium Statistic Number of users of online doctor consultations worldwide 2017-2028
Premium Statistic Penetration rate of online doctor consultations worldwide 2017-2028
Premium Statistic Insured members using telehealth services worldwide in 2021, by region
Premium Statistic Availability of telehealth/telemedicine services in 2021, by region and vendor
Premium Statistic Prevalence of insurers offering telehealth services as of 2021, by region
Premium Statistic Potential time saved through telemedicine worldwide 2023
Premium Statistic Potential time saved for chronic patients through telemedicine worldwide 2023
Basic Statistic Top funded global digital health categories 2021
Premium Statistic Revenue in the Digital Health market Worldwide 2017-2027
Premium Statistic Revenue of the online doctor consultations market worldwide 2017-2028

North America

Premium Statistic Digital services used to manage health in the U.S. 2016-2021
Premium Statistic Physician practices with telehealth functions in the U.S. in 2020, by specialty
Premium Statistic Physician use of telehealth before and after the COVID-19 pandemic in the U.S 2021
Premium Statistic Most common type of telehealth visits in the U.S.2021
Premium Statistic Preference of using telemedicine in the U.S. 2022, by type of care needed
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2 red flag phrases that could signal that your doctor is dismissing your concerns—and how to respond

Medical gaslighting , having your health concerns dismissed by a doctor, is a common practice that many patients experience — and it can be hard to spot when it's not so straightforward.

Some of the things your doctors say may not feel like outright red flags, but should still be met with curiosity and might even call for a tough decision. Untreated health problems can have dire consequences and not feeling supported by your doctor when you have symptoms and concerns could mean it's time to switch your care provider.

There are two phrases your doctor may say that Dr. LaTasha Seliby Perkins , a family physician at Georgetown University, advises you pay closer attention to on your next visit.

2 red flag phrases that could signal your doctor is dismissing your concerns

'your symptoms are vague'.

If after describing your symptoms and giving concrete details about what you're experiencing, "you keep hearing the words 'vague' and 'unclear,' that's something that means that they can't really interpret the information you're giving," Seliby Perkins says.

When your doctor isn't able to provide a diagnosis and doesn't offer additional context for what you're experiencing, "that's kind of a red flag for if they're listening to you, or if they're the right doctor," she adds.

Even if your health problem is beyond your doctor's scope and specialty, rather than denying there's any issue at all, there is a way for that doctor to support you.

"If they can't figure it out, maybe that means you need a referral to a specialist," Seliby Perkins says.

You hear 'somatization' too soon

Somatization is "a medical term for when you embody stress," Seliby Perkins says. "You may feel it in like an organ, but it seems like you're somaticizing your stress, instead of there actually being a clear diagnosis."

Sometimes somatization is a fair diagnosis, but only after your doctor has run tests to be sure that your pain is indeed stress-induced and nothing more serious.

"If there's been a complete workup, you've seen multiple specialists and done lots of imaging, and you still can't come up with a diagnosis, somatization is a real diagnosis for something like that," Seliby Perkins says.

"But if you just met, and it's your first time talking through your symptoms, you shouldn't hear that diagnosis early on."

How to confront red flags from your doctor

If you hear one of these phrases and you're looking to get more answers, Seliby Perkins suggests you ask these questions:

What are the next steps of care based on what I've described?
Can you tell me what you're thinking based on my symptoms?
What are you considering when I explain my symptoms?

"If you can't get clear answers about what they know and don't know, then that's a red flag. The doctor should be in a space that they understand that this is a team," she says.

As a team, your job is to inform your doctor and give them all of the information about what you're experiencing, Seliby Perkins says. And your doctor's job is to suggest tests and labs to get more information, then interpret the information and offer up options for treatment or further study.

Walking away after asking these questions and still feeling unsupported may mean it's time to find a new doctor.

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IMAGES

Top Conditions That Bring People to the Doctor
Tips to Get the Most Out of Your Doctor Visits
Reasons to Visit a Primary Care Doctor
4 Ways to Make the Most of Your Doctor Visit
3 Indisputable Reasons You Should Visit Your Doctor
Top 10 Reasons to be a Doctor; See Why doctor is the best profession?

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Doctor Visit Dialogue in English for Beginners

COMMENTS

Top List of Reasons People Go To the Doctor
January 16, 2013. A new Mayo Clinic Proceedings study shows people most often visit health care providers because of skin issues, joint disorders and back pain . Jennifer St. Sauver, Ph.D. , says, "Much research already has focused on chronic conditions, which account for the majority of health care utilization and costs in middle-aged and ...
Top reasons to visit your primary care provider
Kidney disease. Heart disease. Post-stroke treatment. High cholesterol. Musculoskeletal issues like arthritis. Skin issues like psoriasis. Lung diseases and conditions like asthma and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) If your chronic disease warranted a visit to a specialist, once your chronic disease is stable, primary care ...
Top 10 Most Common Reasons to Visit the Doctor and Tips for Prevention
Prevention. High blood pressure can be avoided by eating a heart-healthy diet consisting of fruits, vegetables, nuts and fish. Being active, abstaining from tobacco and maintaining a healthy weight can also help promote heart health. 9. Headaches and Migraines. Headaches refer to pain in any region of the head.
The Top 10 Reasons People Visit Their Primary Care Physician
An exhaustive report in 2018 reviewed 12 scientific databases and chose 18 studies from 12 countries with a median of 250,000 patients, or more than 83,000 visits, around the world to evaluate the reasons for visits. Here are the 10 most common patient-reported reasons: Cough. Back pain. Abdominal symptoms. Pharyngitis. Dermatitis. Fever. Headache.
5 Ways to Make the Most of Your Doctor Visit
Download a PDF version (PDF, 608K). Communicating well with your doctor is key to receiving good health care. Learn how to have an effective conversation with your doctor. To share the image, right-click on it and select "save image as" to save the file to your computer. We encourage you to use the hashtag #NIAHealth in your social media posts ...
Why do patients visit their doctors? Assessing the most prevalent
Chronic diseases account for the majority of health care utilization and expenditures in middle-aged and older populations. 1-3 As the population ages, more individuals are living with multiple chronic medical conditions. One-fourth of Americans with chronic conditions account for almost two-thirds of the total healthcare expenditures. 4 Research on chronic disease has largely focused on a ...
7 ways to make a visit to the doctor more successful
Doctor-patient relations are not always ideal. Sometimes the reason is that people do not adequately express their preferences and priorities to the doctor. Asking a doctor to provide a concrete estimate of risk and benefits, such as a statistic, can lead to better doctor-patient encounters. In some cases, it can be helpful to bring a relative or friend to the office visit.
How to Get the Most Out of Your Doctor Visit
Ask your doctor for a list of conditions to research in your family's past, then write down the answers and bring them with you to your visit. If your family tends to be private about its health ...
Insider tips to maximize your doctor visit
The average length of a doctor visit ranges from 10 to 20 minutes. To maximize every moment, one should prepare questions for the doctor in advance, arrive early, and give the doctor a brief summary about the reason for the appointment.
Mayo Clinic IDs the top 10 reasons for doctors' visits
Skin ailments, joint disorders, and back pain—not life-threatening conditions—are the most common reasons for visits to U.S. health care providers, according to a new Mayo Clinic Proceedings study.. For the study, Mayo Clinic researchers used data from the Rochester Epidemiology Project—a comprehensive medical records linkage system—to categorize the medical diagnoses of Olmsted County ...
Tips for a Successful Doctor Visit
7. Write it down. Once you're with the doctor, take notes in case you want to look something up, or bring someone with you to provide a second set of ears. Write down the names of any medications ...
How to Get the Most Out of a Doctor Visit
Doctor visits can serve multiple important goals. Obviously, if you are feeling sick, you have the goal of getting better. But there is much more to gain from visiting your doctor, or there should be.
Make the most of your doctor visit
A visit with your health care provider is a good time to share health concerns and ask questions. Preparing ahead for your appointment can help you get the most from your time together. When you see your provider, be honest about your symptoms and lifestyle habits. Ask questions to make sure you understand. Taking an active role in your health ...
What To Expect During a Virtual Doctor Visit
Online, caregivers can provide consultation to people who have a number of express care concerns and injuries. These conditions include: Fevers. Rashes. Cold and flu. Sleep apnea and other sleep ...
Top 10 Reasons Why Patients Come to Primary Care
Why do patients visit primary care offices? For which conditions are they more likely to visit a surgical or medical specialty office-or a hospital outpatient or emergency department?The CDC's FastStats on Ambulatory Care Use and Physician Office Visits provides lots of answers in "Selected patient and provider characteristics for ambulatory care visits to physician offices and hospital ...
5 Ways to Make the Most of a Doctor's Appointment Right Now
5 Ways to Make the Most of a Doctor's Appointment Right Now. Set the stage for a productive visit, whether it's in person or virtual. It's Monday at 11 a.m., and you have a visit set for 3 p.m ...
Tips to Get More From Doctor Visits
Here's how to make the most of your time with your doctor and screen for serious health problems as you age. At each visit to the doctor: Bring notes about your medical history, current ...
What are the most common conditions in primary care?
Reasons for visits were defined as the reasons patients presented to primary care or the problems managed by physicians. For each of the top RFVs (up to 20 per study), the number, percent, or rate of visits associated with each condition were recorded. ... Ministry of Health - Manatū Hauora [website] Family doctors: methodology and ...
FastStats
Physician office visits. Number of visits: 1.0 billion. Number of visits per 100 persons: 320.7. Percent of visits made to primary care physicians: 50.3%. Source: National Ambulatory Medical Care Survey: 2019 National Summary Tables, table 1 [PDF - 865 KB] Last Reviewed: November 3, 2023. Source: CDC/National Center for Health Statistics.
Beyond symptoms: why do patients see the doctor?
Why look at the determinants of doctor visits? Knowledge about the determinants of healthcare use is important to manage healthcare use, and to avoid its misuse as well as over- and under-use. To date, most studies examining the determinants of healthcare use refer to the widely-applied Andersen model. This model distinguishes between predisposing characteristics (such as sex or age), enabling ...
Types of Doctors and Medical Specialists: Which One Should You See?
Internal medicine doctors. Also called an internist, internal medicine doctors manage common and complex illnesses typically for adults and older adults.; Family medicine doctors. Family medicine ...
Reasons for virtual doctor visits in the U.S. 2023
As of 2023, more than 50 percent of patients in the United States reported that one of the main reasons for a virtual doctor visit was because it was easier and more convenient than in person.
Misdiagnosing Yourself or Your Child Can Be Dangerous
There Are Many Reasons to Visit Your Doctor. When I evaluate someone for new health concerns, I spend a lot of time asking specific questions followed by a physical exam. Diagnostic tests may be necessary to help arrive at the most likely diagnosis. Every piece of information I obtain is important in ruling in or ruling out various conditions.
2 red flag phrases that signal your doctor isn't hearing your ...
You hear 'somatization' too soon. Somatization is "a medical term for when you embody stress," Seliby Perkins says. "You may feel it in like an organ, but it seems like you're ...