Everything You Need to Know About Booking a Doctor's Appointment!

4/12/25

Booking a doctor’s appointment is something I felt was at the same level as taking an exam worth half your grade- horrifying. I used to hate talking on the phone, and it took me a year to get over it…so I totally get how intimidating it can be, especially if you’re not used to going or don’t make appointments. I’ve got you though! In this article I’m going over how to book an appointment and the step by step process to take when you do it alone.Please note!! If you are facing severe symptoms and can’t make an appointment for yourself, get help and call 911 (or the emergency hotline in your area). See below for more info.

First, decide what type of care you’ll need. There are many types of doctors- optometrists (eye doctors), dentists (doctors for teeth and oral health), dermatologists (doctors for your skin), psychiatrists, etc. There will be a doctor that can focus on the care you need- look it up if you don’t know.You may also have a family doctor- to learn more, ask a family member. A family doctor can take care of the health of a patient and their family for a long time, and they have a general focus. Don’t worry if not- you don’t need to have a family doctor to get medical care.

If you have a family doctor/doctor you see regularly (dentist, psychiatrist, etc):
1.) Ask for the phone number of the doctor and call them to book an appointment, or book online. Write this down on a calendar or your phone, just don’t forget it. Before you book, make sure the time works for you and you are able to get there and back safely.
2.) Before the appointment, make a note of what you want to talk about. You can write it down somewhere or memorize it. This can include your concerns, any symptoms, etc.
When making the appointment, identify yourself, state who your family doctor is, and ask for availability. They may ask the reason for your visit- so, if you need to be seen more quickly, be clear about your symptoms. And be prepared: if you already take medications, know what they are and the doses. If you have a history of known health conditions, share that with the doctor. Also, mention current symptoms and what has been happening prior to the visit.
3.) Bring a care card/medical card. In order to get care, you should have your care card or know your number.

If you don’t have a family doctor/doctor you see regularly:Don’t stress if you don’t have a family doctor! They can be difficult to have because they are in high demand. There are still many options to get care.
1.) Walk-in clinics are for non-urgent care (things that aren’t super severe): it’s best if you have a minor illness, injury, or have concerns you’d like to share. Look up “walk in clinics near…[your location]” to find ones near you- make sure you are able to get there safely and know the location well. Walk-in clinics are first come first serve, so… most of the time you have to wait. Most of the time you don’t need to book an appointment, or can book one the same day. There should be a website with that information, and a number to call.
2.) Urgent care clinics. These are when things are more serious, but you don’t need to go to an emergency. Say, you have a sprained ankle- and it hurts, but it’s not terrible. You could go to an urgent care clinic to get treatment. It’s basically for more aggressive care that lands in between seeing a family doctor/going to a walk-in clinic and emergency.
3.) If you are experiencing life threatening symptoms, call 911. Give them your name, location, and symptoms- stay on the line. Ask for an ambulance if needed, and follow whatever the person on the line tells you to do. They will assess your situation and give you proper care. You can also go to an emergency- you have to assess your situation: you may be able to drive yourself there, or you could get a friend/relative/family member to take you.

Online services like “MediMap” can find doctors near you online, and allow you to book appointments. This site works for Canada, though I’m not sure how it is for other countries.
Telus Health is a program you can set up on your device to allow for virtual care when needed- you can connect with many doctors through the phone. If you’re interested, look up “Telus Health” and visit their website to get started.This article is a little late again (blame my physics final project…building a bridge is no joke) but I hope you enjoyed!
As always, thanks for reading. If you have any feedback/comments/questions shoot me an email at [email protected] or dm me through instagram.