Prepare for Your Sports Medicine Visit

Before Coming to See Us

Please arrive at MINIMUM 15 minutes before your appointment time to register and complete paperwork. A parent or legal guardian must accompany the patient to the visit along with photo identification.

  • Please bring the patient's insurance card. Your insurance benefits may require an office visit co-pay. This can be paid at the time of the appointment. Credit cards, debit cards and checks are accepted forms of payment.
  • Please bring the referral from the patient’s physician, if required by insurance. (If you are not sure if this is required, please call your insurance company ahead of time.)
  • If the patient had an x-ray or other diagnostic test performed at a facility other than Nationwide Children's Hospital, please bring the x-ray and results to the appointment.
  • Bring a list of any medications, vitamins or herbal supplements the patient is currently taking to the appointment.
  • If the patient is being seen for pain in the lower half of the body (including low back), please have the patient bring/wear shorts and sneakers.
  • If the patient is being seen for pain in the upper half of the body (elbow, shoulder, upper back, neck), please have the patient bring/wear a tank top.
  • For new injury appointments, please fill out the New Patient Medical Questionnaire.
  • Returning Concussion Patients ONLY: Please bring the patient’s completed symptom log. (If you have lost your log, a new one can be found here: Concussion Symptom Log.

Please plan your time appropriately as the length of our appointments may vary. First visit appointments for musculoskeletal injuries last at least 60 minutes in length. If the patient is being seen in Concussion Clinic, plan for at least 90 minutes on the initial visit. Follow up appointments are generally (but not always) shorter than first visits.

What to expect at your appointment:

When called out of the waiting room, you will be met by an athletic trainer or clinic assistant. Be prepared to answer questions about:

  • Allergies
  • Current Medications
  • Females Only: Date of last menstrual period
  • Past Medical History
  • Past Surgical History
  • Past Family History related to pain/injury
  • Specific questions about your pain/injury, such as, but not limited to:
    • Date of injury
    • How the injury occurred
    • Prior injury to same area (when and how)
    • Things that make pain worse or better

After you see the physician and your visit is complete, you will then see the clinic assistant who will provide you with the following information:

  • An after visit summary
  • Educational handouts (if necessary)
  • Scheduling for follow up appointment(s)
  • School excuse (if necessary)
  • Note for athletic trainer and/or coach (if necessary)