some ways to start scheduling a doctorâs appointment over the phone
Follow-ups
- âHi! Iâd like to make a follow-up appointment.â
- âHi, Iâm [your legal name], Iâd like to schedule a follow-up appointment for about [number of weeks/months] out.
-Â âHi, could I schedule a follow-up appointment for the month of [upcoming month]?â
(Note that if you donât state your name in your greeting, they will likely ask you your name as the next question, which is fine! You donât want to overwhelm them with information in your greeting.)
Acute ailment (new or returning patient)
-Â âHi, could I schedule an appointment for [your own legal name]?â (yes, it seems weird to talk about yourself in the third person like this, but when booking an appointment itâs okay for the initial sentence)
- They may ask reason for appointment. If they do, give a very brief one-sentence summary. âI think I have a sinus infection/Iâd like to have STI screening done/Iâd like a vitamin deficiency panel run/etc.â
New patient, not acute ailment
-Â âHi, is Doctor [Surname] taking new patients at this time?â (If yes,)Â âAlright. Could I make an appointment?â (If no, they should hopefully recommend you a similar doctor or tell you further information. Regardless, theyâll lead it, and make sure to thank them even if they werenât very helpful.)
-Â âHi, I was wondering if I could make an appointment? I have a referral from [Doctor Surname/Hospital Name/etc.].â
Tips:Â
- Always thank them before you hang up, regardless of if you actually made an appointment. Just a simple, âThank you, have a great day,â before you hang up is all it takes, but itâs very important.
- People can âhear a smileâ over the phone (hear when someone is smiling when they are talking vs. not), so smile when you thank someone and when you are saying those niceties, because it makes it sound more genuine.
- Repeat the date out loud to them. âJanuary the 5th, at 7am? Alright, sounds good.â Theyâll probably repeat it at least twice, as well. This helps you remember, helps them know that you know the correct date, and itâs also a social construct.
- If you donât know the information theyâre asking for, itâs okay to admit that. Theyâre there to help you. I remember being on call with a health insurance representative (not even a doctorâs office staff member) when I was just barely living on my own, and her walking me through how to read my health insurance card. I was flustered and embarrassed at the time, but she was very patient with me.
Nowadays, plenty of doctorâs appointments, you can make online. :) Thatâs nice. But some of them, you canât. So these tips are for when you canât.





















