New Patient Check List

A general checklist of things to bring to first oncology appointment


• Valid photo ID, such as a driver's license or passport.


• Completed Patient History Database form. There may be a delay in seeing your physician if you do not have this form completed prior to seeing your physician.


• Your appointment schedule.


• All health insurance and prescription insurance cards.


• Medical information, copies of doctors’ notes and operative reports and any pathology slides that were requested.


• Interpretive reports and actual diagnostic films if requested by your patient access specialist such as CT scans, MRIs, PET scans, ultrasounds, and X-rays must be hand-carried to your first appointment. Your radiology facility may offer to provide copies of these X-rays on a CD, and this is acceptable. However, in order for our radiologists to view outside X-rays on a CD it is critical that they be provided in the proper format. Please instruct your radiology facility providing those films to provide them as DICOM format CDs.


• Please include notes from other physicians for any other medical issues you may have.


• A list of all doctors you would like us to communicate with. Please include the doctor's full name, address and phone number.


• A list of all your prescription and non-prescription medications that you are taking. This request includes vitamins, nutritional supplements, herbal products and over-the-counter drugs.


• Your completed Living Will and Medical Power of Attorney. You or your legally designated representative may also request that your physician prepare an Out-of-Hospital Do-Not-Resuscitate order for you, if appropriate. If you do not have these documents when you arrive for your first appointment, ask to meet with the social worker assigned to your center.


• A list of questions you may want to ask your doctor. Bring a small notebook for keeping notes.


• Comfortable clothing and shoes and a sweater.

• A book, magazines or handwork to help pass the time between appointments.


Check list from MD Anderson's website.