Preparing for an appointment with your doctor
Most patients are unaware of how they should get ready, says UCI Health family medicine physician
IN THE NEWS: Preparation is key, especially for a doctor’s appointment where making the most of one’s time is a matter of health.
Dr. Roxann Engle, a board-certified family medicine physician with UCI Health, spoke with U.S. News & World Report about what types of questions one should consider asking.
"A patient should feel comfortable asking the doctor just about anything they feel is important to their health and well-being. Asking questions regarding what the main complaint is at the visit will help them to leave feeling like they have a good grasp of the plan moving forward."
She also discussed the importance of asking questions if it feels like a physician is stating commands and feeling empowered to refuse certain treatments if they are uncomfortable.
“If the patient has a reason to not want to do something, I will always try to accommodate them. We are partners in their health care and not the last word."
Engle’s clinical interests include women’s health, skin care and pediatrics. She is also the medical director of UCI Health Primary Care Associates. She sees patients at UCI Health — Yorba Linda. Call 714-790-8600 for an appointment.
About UCI Health
UCI Health, one of California’s largest academic health systems, is the clinical enterprise of the University of California, Irvine. The 1,317-bed system comprises its main campus UCI Medical Center, its flagship hospital in Orange, Calif., the UCI Health — Irvine medical campus, four hospitals and affiliated physicians of the UCI Health Community Network in Orange and Los Angeles counties and a network of ambulatory care centers across the region. UCI Medical Center provides tertiary and quaternary care and is home to the only Orange County-based National Cancer Institute-designated comprehensive cancer center, high-risk perinatal/neonatal program and American College of Surgeons-verified Level I adult and Level II pediatric trauma center, gold level 1 geriatric emergency department and regional burn center. Powered by UC Irvine, UCI Health serves 5.6 million people in Orange County, western Riverside County and southeast Los Angeles County. Follow us on Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn and X (formerly Twitter).