Skip to content
Michael E. Seem, MD

Before Your Appointment · No. 1

New-Patient Checklist.

A short list to make your first appointment count. Bring what you can; we can work around whatever is missing.

Before you arrive

  • Confirm with your insurance that Dr. Seem and Winchester Orthopaedic Associates are in network
  • Ask your insurer whether a referral or prior authorization is required
  • Arrive 15–20 minutes early to complete registration

Bring with you

  • Photo ID and insurance card(s)
  • A current list of medications, with doses, including supplements and over-the-counter medicines
  • Prior hip or knee imaging (X-ray, MRI, CT) on disc, or the name of the facility where it was done
  • Operative reports from any previous hip or knee surgery, if available
  • A list of treatments you’ve already tried: injections, therapy, braces, medications
  • The questions you most want answered

Worth thinking about beforehand

  • What activities has your joint taken from you? Be specific; it shapes the plan.
  • What would a successful outcome look like for you six months from now?
  • Who will support you at home if you eventually choose surgery?
Good to know
Dr. Seem will spend the first part of your visit listening. A recommendation is never based on an X-ray alone; your history, your examination, your goals, and what you have already tried all matter as much as the image.

Written and reviewed by Michael E. Seem, MD, board-certified orthopaedic surgeon in Winchester, Virginia. Last reviewed September 2026. Medical disclaimer.

Related on this site

Still have a question?

Search every guide on this site and jump to the part that answers it.

These are general guides, not advice about your own care, and this search is not a way to contact the office. Please don’t type personal or medical details. Nothing you type here is sent anywhere or saved.

What happens next

Questions about your visit or your recovery?