Check who will treat you
Check who will assess you
Get a name behind the offer.
Ask who will assess and treat you: a doctor, nurse practitioner, physician assistant or someone else? Write down that person’s full name and job title beside the service’s name.
The care check
NAME.CHECK.Bring the open question.Find out who makes the decision
Ask who reviews your history, who can answer your questions and who decides whether a prescription fits.
State medical boards keep public information on doctors’ licences and any penalties or formal charges they make public.
A record showing no public penalties or charges does not tell you how skilled the doctor is.
Ask about the work, not the title
- What experience do you have with the condition I want to discuss?
- How will you decide whether this medicine fits me?
- What other approaches will we discuss?
- Who takes over if an exam or test is needed?
Listen for an answer about your concern. If the reply is only a product name, ask again about the assessment.
Check whether the conversation can continue
The Federation of State Medical Boards called in May 2026 for patients to be able to ask the treating person questions after the visit.
These are suggestions for state boards to use, rather than a law that applies across the country.
Ask how replies work after the visit, who reads messages and whether another fee applies.
Read the record
- Read the prescribing guidance
The Federation of State Medical Boards gives guidance on checking your health and answering questions. Ask the service which state rules it must follow.