I cannot overstate the importance of thoroughly filling out the intake form prior to your appointment. Although it may seem like a long list of overly detailed questions, the intake form is actually the first step in your diagnosing. About 90% of what’s wrong can be deduced with a thorough patient history.
It’s critical that you take your time filling out each question as accurately and completely as possible. Diagnosing you is like putting together a puzzle. If there are aspects of the intake form missing or inaccurately filled out, I’m trying to put together a puzzle without all of the pieces. Past medical conditions, broken bones, and surgeries are all important pieces of information that can help me understand what might be causing a you pain. Even something as small as having your wisdom teeth removed is an important piece of information, especially when you’re experiencing jaw pain.
Accurate information is also hugely important when determining the type of treatment to administer. For example, if you have a history of bleeding disorders, you would be a poor candidate for cupping. If you fail to include this information in your intake, I might consider a an inappropriate form of treatment.
I know it can be time consuming to recall all of your medical history and put it down in writing. This is why I recommend filling out your new patient intake form well in advance of your first appointment. It’s also a good idea to fill it out over a period of time if you feel that your medical history is extensive. This way you can make sure that all pertinent information is accounted for. That being said, if you realize that you’ve forgotten something on your intake form, take note and bring it up with during your new patient appointment.
At the beginning of each new patient appointment, I go through your intake form with you to make sure that I understand the information and can ask further questions if needed. Now both you and I can have a clear picture of what you’re experiencing and how it should be treated.
