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What To Expect before Your Visit

Please plan ahead before your visit to Dr. Li’s office for your initial visit will help make your experience as effective and efficient as possible. It is important that you bring with you all of the information needed (medical records, medication lists, previous surgery information, etc.), so that we can gain the best understanding of your problem, determine the factors that may influence your treatment and formulate the best treatment plan for you. Please reading the following information carefully.

What time should you arrive for the Appointment?

Please arrive 15 minutes before your first appointment so that you can fill out our office forms and questionnaires.
YOU CAN SAVE YOURSELF TIME IF YOU COMPLETE THIS FORM BEFORE YOU ARRIVE: Patient Intake Forms.
We’ve compiled a page to help you determine what to bring to your appointment. It is available here: What to bring to your visit.

Please bring these items with you for the initial visit:

Bring your insurance card and primary care referral, if necessary.
If you have seen another orthopaedic physician for the same problem, please bring your x-rays, MRIs, Arthrograms, and CT Scans, as well as their office notes and/or operative reports (intraoperative photos) that is pertinent to your presenting problem.
Your medications list and herbal supplements.
Your medical records along with a list of your past medical history.
Your surgical and operative reports. Also any intraoperative pictures.
A list of allergies and any reactions you have to medications
Any questions or concerns you have about your current condition.
Please fill out either a knee or shoulder questionnaire before your office visit with Dr. Li.

It is very important for you to completely understand your injury and the treatment plan after your first visit. You are encouraged to ask questions throughout the process and to contact our office at any time if you do not understand something or have any additional questions. Please call, (617) 638-5633 or contact my Physician Assistant, Jennifer Hichborn, P.A. (Jennifer.Hichborn@bmc.org) with any inquires.

Review the material you were given in the office and the treatment plan.
Make a list of questions that you did not ask during your visit. You may ask them at your next visit or call our office at any time.
Follow the instructions (physical therapy protocol, post injection protocol, activity modification, etc.) given in the office. Take all medication as prescribed for the full course. If you have an adverse side effect from the medication, please call us and let us know so that we can change your medication.
Be complete and accurate with your medical history, including listing all of the medications that you take.
Take notes while you are at your appointment and ask questions.
Ask for handouts that you can review at a later time or visit www.xinningli.com and go to the patient education section to obtain more information about your condition.
Our office will help you verify that the surgery is covered by your insurance policy before proceeding to booking the surgery.
We want this experience to be 100% about you and our goal is to give you the best treatment options (conservative or surgery) to improve your function, decrease your pain, and get you back to your pre-injury activity level.

If you decide to go ahead with surgery, please go to the following page to prepare: Planning Before Your Surgery and FAQ Shoulder or FAQ Knee Surgery.