When you are looking for a new medical professional, whether it’s a primary care physician or a specialist, it can be hard to know how to choose the best one for the job. Finding a good doctor can be a daunting task, but here are some tips that may help:
Determine Your Healthcare Needs
Before looking for a new medical provider, you need to determine what kind of healthcare services you need. Do you need someone who can provide you with preventive care or do you have a specific medical condition that requires specialized treatment?
Ask for Recommendations
Ask family members, friends, and co-workers for recommendations on doctors they have had good experiences with. Personal recommendations can be very valuable, as you can ask specific questions about the provider’s bedside manner, communication skills, and overall level of care. If you are being referred to a specialist by your primary physician, they may have a list of recommendations.
Check Reviews
Read doctor review sites to get an idea of their experiences with the doctors on your list. You can use these online resources to find medical providers in your area and learn more about them. You can also find reviews by looking at local social media pages. However, keep in mind that reviews can be subjective and may not always provide an accurate representation of the doctor’s abilities. People are more likely to leave poor reviews than positive ones.
Check With Your Insurance Provider
If you have health insurance, your insurance provider may have a list of in-network providers that you can choose from. This will help you narrow down your search and ensure that you can afford the care you need. If your insurance company does not provide such a list, you will have to check with each provider to make sure that they accept your insurance. You may also want to ask about their policies on out-of-pocket expenses and any fees for missed appointments.
Check Their Credentials
Check the doctor’s credentials, including their education, board certification, and any disciplinary actions. You can do this through your state’s medical board or online resources. You can also check the reputation of specialists by talking to your primary care provider, people you know who work in the healthcare field, and other similar resources.
Consider Their Experience
If you are looking for a family doctor, make sure the one that you are considering can treat your children as well as the adults in the family. Many offices have helpful programs such as walk-in times for sick calls. Find out about these if they are important to you.
On the other hand, if you are researching for a specialist, you might need to consider the doctor’s experience in treating your specific needs. If you have a complex medical condition, you may want to look for a doctor who specializes in that area of medicine. You may want to ask how many patients with your condition the provider has treated and what their success rate is.
Check Their Communication Style
It’s important to feel comfortable with your doctor and their communication style. Once you have narrowed your list down to those doctors with good reviews, qualifications, and credentials, consider scheduling an initial meeting or appointment to learn more about them. Look for a doctor who listens to your concerns, explains things clearly, and answers your questions. If you are looking for care for a specific concern or condition, you can ask them about their experience with that situation and how comfortable they feel treating you.
Check Their Availability
Check the doctor’s availability and office hours to ensure they can accommodate your schedule. Many doctors are over-booked an no longer accept new patients or have a waiting list. Make sure that they won’t be hard to get into when you need them, and if you need to see the doctor a lot, such as for well-baby visits or frequent appointments for a specific condition, you will want to make sure they will be able to work with you.
Look for a Doctor Who is Affiliated With a Reputable Hospital
A doctor who is affiliated with a reputable hospital or medical center can provide access to a broader range of services and resources. If you have gotten a referral to a specialist, your primary care physician may have a list of the doctors affiliated with the same hospital or network, which may be helpful if you see a lot of different specialists or will be sharing medical records with multiple providers.
Trust Your Instincts
Ultimately, you want to choose a medical provider that you feel comfortable with and trust. Even if you do all the right things as far as checking on credentials and employing word-of-mouth recommendations, you may find that you just don’t vibe with a highly-regarded doctor. In this case, it’s probably a good idea to keep looking. And even after you have chosen a physician, if something doesn’t feel right or you’re not happy with the care you’re receiving, don’t hesitate to look for another provider.
Conclusion
Finding and choosing a doctor, no matter what your needs are, can be both a very personal and a very time-consuming process. However, if you take the time to choose carefully and evaluate potential providers as much as possible, you will be more likely to be happy with the doctor you selected and stay with them for a long time.