Pre-visit Preparation Packets

Patients who are better prepared for an appointment with their doctor will make better use of their one-on-one time with the doctor. The Stoeckle Center is developing novel approaches to reach out to patients and their families prior to their appointment. Newly designed pre-visit packets will contain basic information specific to each patient’s upcoming appointment, ensuring:

• a better prepared and better educated patient who becomes an active participant in his or her own treatment and prevention plans;
• the patient and physician identify clear objectives for the appointment;
• the groundwork is laid for true shared decision-makingthat patients understand their medications;
• better use of the time that patients and physicians spend together to make informed decisions and plans for care;
• patients have a clear understanding of how to follow their treatment plans;
• standardized clinician-approved patient education materials are provided;
• increased referrals to the MGH Blum Patient & Family Learning Center (as appropriate); and,
• improved clinician and patient satisfaction with the office visit;

The Center is currently testing its pilot pre-visit packets, which focus on the annual physical for 50 year-old men and women and well child visits in pediatrics. Tests are being conducted through individual patient interviews – obtaining feedback from patients on the format, content and length of the packets, as well as patients’ preferences for timing and method for receiving the packets. The Center is exploring systems that could link the information to the patients’ electronic medical records, making transmission of the information and record-keeping easier and more efficient.

The pre-visit packets are designed to encourage patients to become active participants in their own health care and to leave room in the office visit for discussions that can only happen in person. Patients who become accustomed to receiving information about straightforward health issues and partnering with their physician in information-sharing will be better prepared to make informed decisions should they ever face a more serious or uncertain health care decision.