Nothing is more important than your health, and the best way to live a healthy life is by staying up-to-date on doctors’ appointments. But with dentists, optometrists, dermatologists, ob-gyns, and more, the list of doctors to see annually — or even more frequently — can be overwhelming to keep track of.
Even if you only see one or two doctors annually, it can be a struggle to remember the appointments that you booked weeks or months in advance, and the last thing you want is to accidentally skip out on a hard-to-schedule specialist or miss your annual check up.
Keeping track of medical appointments is crucial to your self-care, but it’s worth noting that it’s just one good habit to build. There are numerous other ways to build habits in your life to create your best and healthiest self. In this guide, you’ll learn several of the best ways to keep track of your medical appointments, so you can find the method that works best for you and never miss an appointment again.
Always write down appointment information upon scheduling
Life can get hectic, and relying on just your memory isn’t always a good idea when it comes to remembering appointments –especially with appointments you’ve booked weeks or months in advance. Instead, you should always add your appointment to calendar as soon as you schedule it.
If it’s a follow-up visit, you can ask the office staff to write information on an appointment reminder card. Make sure to keep the appointment reminder card somewhere you’ll see it often and won’t lose it – your wallet or the fridge are great spots.
Transfer appointment information to all calendars
Once you’ve scheduled your appointment, be sure to make sure it’s on all calendars you use. If you need to request time off work, it’s great to put in your request as soon as you’ve gathered your appointment details.
Reschedule only if necessary
You should always try your best to honor your scheduled appointment times. Rescheduling can be a headache for the staff at your doctor’s office–in order to keep the office running smoothly. If you do need to reschedule, try to do so as far in advance as possible to allow the office staff time to readjust their schedules as needed. Rescheduling can also cause problems for you, as some doctors have long waitlists and may not be able to get you a new appointment in a timely manner.
Sometimes life happens though, and you have to reschedule anyway. If you need to reschedule an appointment, you can do so in your Zocdoc account, or by calling your doctor’s office directly. Once you reschedule, be sure to update all of your calendars.
Opt in for office appointment reminders
Another great method to remember your medical appointments is to opt-in for reminders. When you schedule an appointment through Zocdoc, you’ll receive important reminders before your appointment. Most medical offices will also give you multiple opportunities to opt-in for reminders via text, email or phone call.