Endocrine care leans on numbers and history: lab values over time, imaging, device readings and the medications you take. A first visit where the specialist can see all of that is very different from one spent piecing it together. This checklist is built for the reasons people are usually referred: thyroid, diabetes, pituitary, adrenal, bone and reproductive hormone questions.
This page is about logistics, not treatment. Don't start, stop or change any medication or supplement because of something you read here. If you're unsure whether to do anything before your visit or a blood draw, ask the clinic.
The preparation timeline
- Confirm the basicsCheck the date, the location and whether the visit is in person or by video. Large systems run several sites. UCLA Health alone lists seven outpatient endocrinology locations, so confirm the exact address.
- Confirm the referralIf your plan needs a referral or authorization, ask the clinic whether it's on file. The coverage and referral guide explains how each plan type works.
- Request recordsAsk every lab, imaging center and doctor's office involved to send results to the new clinic, and get your own copies.
- Check the doctorLook up the license with the Medical Board of California and the certification with ABIM. The home page shows how.
- Ask about pre-visit instructionsAsk whether you need labs drawn before the visit and whether there are any instructions for them.
- Write your questionsKeep them short and put the most important ones first.
The endocrine-specific checklist
| What to bring | Why it helps | Where to get it |
|---|---|---|
| Recent lab results with dates and reference ranges | Shows the values that prompted the referral | Patient portal, the lab or the ordering doctor |
| Earlier results for the same tests | Shows change over time, which a single value can't | Older portals or previous doctors |
| Thyroid ultrasound or other imaging reports | Puts the findings already on record in front of the specialist | The imaging center or ordering doctor |
| Access to the images themselves | Lets the specialist look, not just read a summary | The imaging center; ask how it shares images |
| Glucose meter or CGM report | Shows readings across days, not one office value | The device app or software; bring the meter too |
| Medication and supplement list | Gives the full picture of what you take | Your pharmacy, the bottles, your prescribing doctors |
| Referral, insurance card and photo ID | Avoids delays at check-in | Your plan and primary care office |
| Short personal and family history notes | Saves time when the specialist asks about your history | You and your relatives |
Glucose meters and CGMs
If you check your glucose at home, that data is part of your record. Before the visit, ask the clinic how it prefers to receive it. Can it take data directly from your device's software, or does it want a printed or PDF report? Bring the meter or reader itself as well, in case an export doesn't come through.
Medications and supplements
Write down everything you take. Include prescriptions, over-the-counter medicines, vitamins and supplements, and anything you take for hair, skin, energy or weight. For each one, list the name, the strength, how often you take it and who prescribed it. Bringing the bottles in a bag works too.
Supplements belong on this list as much as prescriptions do. If you're unsure whether something you take could matter for your tests, ask the clinic before your blood draw rather than stopping it on your own.
Moving records between LA health systems
Many Los Angeles patients have records spread across separate organizations: labs at one system, imaging at another, an old specialist somewhere else. UCLA Health, Cedars-Sinai, Keck Medicine of USC, Kaiser Permanente and the county's Department of Health Services are separate organizations. Don't assume your new endocrinologist can see everything.
- Ask the new clinic how it receives outside records and whether it can request them for you.
- Ask each office that holds your records for a copy for yourself as well, as a backup if the transfer is slow.
- For imaging, ask for both the written report and the images.
- Check hospital affiliations. UCLA endocrinologists see patients at St. John's Medical Center, which UCLA notes is not a UCLA hospital (UCLA Health). Ask where records from there are kept.
- Bring your copies to the visit even if the records were sent ahead.
Video visit or in person?
Ask the clinic which format suits your appointment. A physical exam, imaging and lab draws all require you to be there in person. Whether a video visit fits is the clinic's call. These questions help you plan:
- Can this first visit be done by video, or does it need to be in person?
- If labs are needed first, where should I go, and how far ahead?
- How do I join the video visit, and what happens if the connection drops?
- Who do I call if I need to switch formats?
If you'll be seen by video, you can check the doctor's California license the same way as for an in-person visit. The Medical Board of California's License Verification search covers all physicians licensed in the state. For endocrinology board certification, use abim.org/verify (ABIM).
Questions to ask at the visit
- What do you think is going on, and what are you checking for?
- Which tests do I need next, and where can I have them done under my coverage?
- How and when will I get the results?
- Who do I contact between visits, and how?
- When should I come back, and should I book that now?
- Is there written information you'd suggest I read?
After the visit
Before you leave, or within a day or so, make sure you have the visit summary, any test orders and your follow-up date. If the clinic offers a patient portal, sign up so results reach you directly. If something in the summary doesn't match what you heard, call and ask.
Patient education we've checked
We only link to patient-education material we've verified. So far that is UCLA Health's endocrinology patient resources page. It also lists UCLA's hospital affiliations, outpatient locations and scheduling line. For material that fits your own situation, ask your endocrinologist's office. To compare institutions, see the centers guide.
Frequently asked questions
What should I bring to my first endocrinologist appointment?
Bring your referral, insurance card and ID, plus recent lab results with dates. Add reports from any thyroid ultrasound or other imaging, a glucose meter or CGM report if you use one, and a full list of medications and supplements.
Should I stop supplements before endocrine blood tests?
Don't change anything on your own. Ask the clinic before your blood draw whether any instructions apply to you.
How do I get my records from another LA hospital?
Ask the new clinic how it receives outside records. Request them from each office that holds them, and keep your own copies. For imaging, ask for both the report and the images.
Can my first endocrinology visit be a video visit?
Ask the clinic. A physical exam, imaging and lab draws require you to be there in person, so the clinic decides which format fits.
How can I check a doctor before the visit?
Search the Medical Board of California's License Verification tool, or the Osteopathic Medical Board of California for a D.O. Then check Endocrinology, Diabetes and Metabolism certification at abim.org/verify.
Sources
- Endocrinology patient resources — UCLA Health
- License Verification — Medical Board of California
- Information for credentialers — American Board of Internal Medicine
- Endocrinology, Diabetes, and Metabolism certification policies — American Board of Internal Medicine