For your first visit to a gastroenterologist, bring photo ID, your insurance card, any referral, a complete medication list and copies of recent test results, and arrive with a short written summary of your symptoms. Preparing these few items makes the appointment faster and more useful. This checklist is written for new patients of Digestive Health Specialists, the Scottsdale practice behind DigestiveAZ.com.
Key takeaways
- Check referral and insurance requirements before you call to book.
- Complete the registration forms from the official site ahead of time.
- First visits are in Suite 215; procedures are in Suite 117.
- A one-page symptom summary helps you remember everything you want to say.
Before you book
Start with your insurance. Many plans require a referral from your primary care provider before they cover a specialist visit, and some require prior authorization for procedures. Our referrals, insurance and billing guide explains both. A quick call to your insurer, or a look at your plan documents, avoids surprises later. You can read more about the practice and how it relates to Arizona Digestive Health in our explainer on the two names.
When you are ready, call (480) 563-5757, Monday to Friday, 8:00 AM to 4:30 PM. Tell the scheduler your main concern, whether a provider referred you, and if you have a preference for a particular provider.
The first-visit checklist
| Bring | Why it matters |
|---|---|
| Photo ID and insurance card | Needed for check-in and billing |
| Referral, if your plan requires one | Helps ensure the visit is covered |
| Completed registration forms | Saves time in the waiting room |
| Medication and supplement list with doses | Some medicines affect the gut or liver |
| Recent labs, imaging and endoscopy reports | Avoids repeating tests you already had |
| Short symptom summary | Makes sure nothing important is forgotten |
How to write a useful symptom summary
A few lines on one page are enough. Doctors find these details especially helpful:
- What the main symptom is and when it started.
- How often it happens and how long each episode lasts.
- What makes it better or worse, including foods and timing.
- Any weight change, bleeding, fever or night-time symptoms.
- What you have already tried, and whether it helped.
- Relevant family history, such as colon cancer, polyps, IBD or liver disease.
If reflux is your main concern, our guide on when heartburn needs a GI doctor lists the details worth noting. For liver results, see what happens after abnormal liver tests.
On the day
Digestive Health Specialists is at Princess Medical Center, 8573 East Princess Drive, Building B, Scottsdale, just off the Loop 101. Office visits and consultations are in Suite 215; the endoscopy center is in Suite 117. Arrive a little early to allow for parking and check-in, and bring your checklist items in one folder.
During the visit, your provider will review your history, examine you and explain the next steps. These might include blood tests, imaging, a change in treatment, or a procedure such as a colonoscopy or upper endoscopy. If a procedure is recommended, you will receive written preparation instructions; our colonoscopy prep guide gives a general overview.
After the appointment
- Write down the plan and any follow-up dates before you leave.
- Ask how results will be shared, for example by phone or through the patient portal.
- Book any recommended tests promptly.
- Keep your summary updated for future visits.
Existing patients can reach the patient portal from the top menu of the official site. For the complete overview of the practice, see the full DigestiveAZ.com guide, browse more patient guides, or explore the GI procedures category. Questions about billing are best directed to the practice using the details on DigestiveAZ.com.
Questions worth asking at your first visit
First appointments can feel rushed, so bring a few questions written at the bottom of your symptom summary. These help many patients leave with a clear plan:
- What do you think is most likely causing my symptoms?
- Which tests do I need, and what will each one tell us?
- Do I need a procedure, and how should I prepare for it?
- Should I change any of my current medicines or supplements?
- When should I expect results, and how will I receive them?
- Which symptoms mean I should call sooner or seek urgent care?
It is completely fine to ask the provider to repeat or explain something in simpler words. A good plan is one you understand and can follow at home. MedlinePlus offers more tips on talking with your doctor.
Helping a family member prepare
Many first appointments are booked by adult children for a parent, or by one partner for another. If you are helping, gather the checklist items into one folder, write the symptom summary together, and save the address and phone number in both phones. Our fiber guide and other gut health articles are also useful reading while you wait for the appointment.
Frequently asked questions
How early should I arrive for my first GI appointment?
Arriving 10 to 15 minutes early is a sensible rule for a first visit, unless the practice tells you otherwise. It allows time for parking, finding the right suite and completing check-in. If you have already filled in the registration forms, check-in is usually quicker.
Where do I go for my first visit?
First visits and consultations take place in the physician offices, Suite 215, at Princess Medical Center, 8573 East Princess Drive, Building B, Scottsdale. Procedures such as colonoscopy are performed at the endoscopy center in Suite 117 of the same building.
Can I bring someone with me?
Many patients find it helpful to bring a family member or friend to take notes and ask questions. Check with the practice for any current visitor guidance. If you are having a procedure with sedation, you will need an adult to drive you home afterwards.
What if I need to reschedule?
Call the office as early as possible on (480) 563-5757 during phone hours, Monday to Friday, 8:00 AM to 4:30 PM. Giving notice helps the practice offer the slot to another patient and makes it easier to find you a new time.
This article is general information, not medical advice. For personal care, contact your clinician or call (480) 563-5757.
