When you are sick or injured which doctor do you choose? Do you need a family physician, an internist, a surgeon, and obstetrician - gynecologist or other kind of specialist?
If you are currently unhappy with your current doctor follow these tips for choosing a new one:
First, call your health insurance plan or managed care plan and get a list of doctors who are approved providers.
Ask basic questions of yourself. Do you want a family doctor or a specialist? Do you want a doctor who practices on his own, or would you rather be part of a larger group practice, where doctors typically share responsibilities or fill in for each other during vacations and days off?
Does gender matter? Do you want a male or female doctor? If you are choosing a doctor for the whole family, will your spouse or children prefer a male or female doctor? If you have teenagers, what will their preferences be?
Ask family members, neighbors, friends, co-workers and other people you trust for recommendations. Who do they recommend? Who would they not recommend?
Check the doctor's credentials. Is he a specialist? Check with the American Board of Medical Specialists to see if the doctor is indeed certified in the specialty he claims.
Make a call and a visit to the doctor's office. How friendly is the operator, receptionist or person who answers the phone? How attentive are they to your questions or concerns? Are they hurried or willing to listen? Is the office clean and well staffed? Are sick patients kept separately in the waiting room?
Set up an interview with the doctor, a time to meet each other and assess whether you think you can work with this doctor. Is he updated on the latest medical developments, openness to alternative treatments, etc.
Ask about other key components of your health care team. At which hospital does the doctor have privileges? Who fills in when the doctor is on vacation?
Once you have done your homework, take time to think about how you feel about your encounters with the doctors you have met, because this is where you will find your decision. Were you pleased with the interaction? Did you feel comfortable with the doctor's qualifications but turned off by his personality? Did he explain things in terms you could understand or was communication difficult? Did the doctor present several approaches to treating a problem in a manner that would help you decide what to do? Was the doctor supportive of your ideas and philosophies about health, and did he view you as an important partner in your health care? Did the doctor make you feel comfortable about seeking a second opinion from another physician?
If you feel comfortable with the doctor's expertise and ability to interact as a person, you will be much closer to a decision. After you have established a relationship with a doctor you trust and feel comfortable with, remember that maintaining your health is a two way relationship. Partner with your doctor to find the most accurate, up to date information, tests, diagnoses and advice.
That means you have to be willing to talk about embarrassing potentially troubling issues, whether it is about your sexual activities, bowel movements, drug use or something as difficult as domestic abuse or violence in the family.
Try, as much as possible, to keep lines of communication open. That doesn't mean swamping your doctor's office with phone calls once a day. It means being realistic about your needs and your doctor's needs. It means being open and honest with yourself, and being willing to listen to what the doctor recommends.
