How to prepare for your visit

Office Policies

Please review these office polices before your visit.

• While we do our best to stay on time, there are unexpected delays that occur.  Please plan on at least 1 hour for your visit.
• Understandably, when you’re nervous, it’s difficult to remember all the information that is discussed.  PLEASE, if you plan to tape record a visit, let the provider know you are doing so.
• A copy of your office visit note is available within 24 hours of your visit.
• Bring with you, the addresses of any physician or provider you want included in the correspondence regarding your visit.

Paperwork

What would a doctor visit be without paperwork? Please don’t forget to bring:

• Your insurance card(s)
• A photo ID (you cannot be seen without a photo ID)
• Your referral (many insurances require a referral from your primary care doctor. These referrals are a MUST. You cannot be seen without a referral (if required). Unfortunately, the promise of a referral will not help and your appointment will be cancelled/rescheduled without the necessary referral.
• A friend or relative, as another set of ‘ears’ is always helpful.

Clinical Information

You will likely have already spoken to a staff member, or filled out a medical questionnaire on-line. It is essential that we have:

• A list of your medications, including dosages.
• A list of your prior surgeries and medical issues.
• As much information about family members who might have had breast cancer as possible.
• Information about family history, especially of breast, ovarian, prostate and skin cancer.
• Via the patient portal, most of this information can be obtained prior to your appointment.
• A Risk Assessment Questionnaire can also be completed ahead of time, via a website link that can be emailed to new patients prior to their appointment.

Diagnostic Information

In order to provide the highest quality care, it is important to bring, or, have available:

• The latest mammogram and ultrasound reports
• The latest breast MRI report
• A pathology report if one is available – Patients from outside the Beaumont Health System (those patients who have had imaging or pathology done within the System do not need to worry about this)
• If you are coming from a hospital outside of the Beaumont Health System, the actual images (pictures) of the aforementioned test are very helpful and improve the quality of your visit
• Please be aware that images on a CD are fine, but, sometimes, the discs cannot be opened due to technical reasons
• Ultimately, we might need to have the pathology ‘slides’ reviewed, and will ask for your help in obtaining – this is not necessary at the first visit