Your question
What do I bring to the appointment?
Write the main question before the visit. Keep it in ordinary words. “What is causing this problem?” leaves room for a full discussion.
What belongs in my notes?
- The concern: what has changed, and when you first noticed it.
- The goal: what you hope to do or feel differently.
- Your history: medicines, supplements, allergies, and past care.
- Your sport: the organisation and rules you compete under.
- The questions: what you want explained before deciding.
What do I ask about the proposed treatment?
Ask for its full name, the reason it is being offered, and the evidence behind that reason. Ask what other care could be discussed.
Ask what change the person treating you would look for and when they would check your progress again. Write down who will explain the plan.
Which questions belong at the end of my visit?
Where can I request my own copy of the visit notes? Who explains a test result? How do I raise a question after the visit? What happens if I decide against the treatment?
Patients must have a way to put further questions to their treating clinician, says guidance from the Federation of State Medical Boards available in September 2026.
What if I am only shown a treatment menu?
The boards’ federation said in May 2026 that a menu choice alone is not enough for proper medical care.
That is guidance from the group of state boards. Ask for your problem to be assessed. Request an explanation that you can describe yourself.
What matters here?
Leave with the proposed plan, the reason for it, and a way to ask more questions.