The new UW Neighborhood Olympia Clinic has had a terrific start. We opened on January 4, and have thoroughly enjoyed getting to know our new patients and the community. Thank you, Thurston County, for a warm welcome.
We thought it might be helpful to share with you a few ways to get the most out of your primary care visit. Clinicians are responsible for providing your care, but patients who make good use of their visit get even more out of the experience.
Preparing for your appointment
- Make a prioritized list of questions and/or of persistent illnesses or significant differences in how you feel since the last time you saw your provider.
- Bring your current medications, herbal supplements and vitamins in their containers.
- If it will be helpful, bring a trusted family member or friend with you.
- If you are a new patient, bring in a list of other care providers you have seen in the past or outside of our clinic. Our ability to fully understand your medical history will improve the care we can provide.
- If necessary, have someone present to supervise your children. Our clinics do not provide supervision for children left unattended in the lobby, but we are concerned for their safety during your visit.
Checking in
- Arrive 10–15 minutes prior to your appointment.
- Be prepared to provide your:
- Insurance card
- Co-pay (UW Neighborhood Clinics accept personal checks, MasterCard, Visa, American Express, and Discover Card)
- Photo identification
- Late Arrivals — If you are more than 10 minutes late to your appointment, our healthcare professional may not be able to see you. We will make every effort to meet your needs, but your appointment may need to be rescheduled.
During Your Appointment
- Write down the names of your care team members.
- Ask the questions on your list and/or review the significant illnesses or differences since your last visit.
- Share information openly. Don’t hold back on sharing information that may seem embarrassing — your privacy is important to us and we will protect it.
- Ask for medication refills if you will run out before your next appointment.
- Use your own words to repeat back the things you have discussed with your care team.
- Make sure you understand the instructions in your After Visit Summary (AVS).
After Your Appointment
- Please follow the instructions noted in your AVS.
- If you do not understand any aspect of the instructions given to you, please call the clinic to ask for clarification.
- Log in to UW Medicine eCare and use the Internet to help manage and receive information about your health. eCare is a free service available to all UW Medicine patients. For more information visit https://ecare.uwmedicine.org.
Choosing a healthcare provider is one of the most important decisions a person can make. Thank you, Thurston County, for your support and for allowing us to care for your primary care needs.
For more information about UW Neighborhood Olympia Clinic visit uwmedicine.org/Olympia.
