Have you ever gone to the doctor and tried to tell her about your problem, and then realized at the end of the visit you left out something important?  Your doctor needs to know all your concerns to give you the best treatment.  This is often hard to do in a short office visit, leaving little time for questions or patient education.

You can improve the quality of your visit, and make best use of your time with the doctor by completing a Symptom Assessment before your office visit.  Just click on the Symptom Assessment menu button.  You will be asked to pick a problem off the list, or enter a complaint in your own words.  The expert software will ask you questions about your illness or concern.  You answers are securely recorded on our website.  No one can read them except your doctor and his or her nurse.  When you arrive at the office, be sure to remind the nurse and the doctor that your history is recorded on the web site.  By finishing the history BEFORE your visit, your doctor will be ready to help you with your problem.  You will not waste any time talking about things you don't have, and will have more time to focus on what is wrong.

Below is an made-up example of the kind of information Symptom Assessment collects for you and your doctor to review:

Chief Complaint

XXX is a 32 year old male. His chief complaint is "headache".

History of Present Illness

He reported: headaches.

Location: He reported: headache frontal in location | headaches diffuse in location | retro-ocular headache. He denied: headaches usually unilateral | headaches usually periorbital at onset.

Duration: He reported: headache last from 15 minutes to three hours with increasing severity | headaches last from 8 hours to several days | onset of headaches between ages 25 and 49.

Timing: He reported: headache often present on awakening. He denied: headaches more frequent certain days of the week.

Context: He denied: too much or too little sleep cause a headache | headaches caused by head position | glare or light stimulates a headache | alcohol or drugs precipitate a headache | chocolate ingestion precipitates a headache.

Modifying Factors: He reported: scalp pressure sometimes relieves headache. He denied: headaches precipitated or aggravated by missing a meal.

Associated Signs and Symptoms: He reported: headaches sometimes cause awakening from sleep | headache induced conjunctival injection | headaches sometimes associated with dizziness. He denied: periauricular headaches | visual flashes or partial visual loss before the headache | headaches are accompanied by nausea | headaches are accompanied by vomiting | headaches are accompanied by thirst | paresthesia or weakness associated with headache | headache associated with increased sensitivity to noise | headaches and dizziness when riding in car or truck.

Past, Family, and Social History

Accidents and Injuries

He denied: serious head injury.

Family History

He denied: family member has similar headaches or migraine.

Social History

History of: large religious celebration within the last six months.

Medication History

History of: meds sometimes relieve headache.

He denied: meds or substance ingestion causes headache.

Review of Systems

Ear, Nose, and Throat

Dental Health

He denied: dental problems or due a dental check-up.

Psychiatric

He reported: recently has felt stressed sometimes | calm never | change to entirely different line of work within the last six months | very large mortgage within the last two years | change in responsibilities at work within the last six months | change in work hours or conditions within the last six months | vacation within the last two years.

He denied: personality change before headache.