What You Need to Do to Find the Right Doctor

 

There are a lot of American adults who do not see the value in having a primary care doctor. They think that they are healthy so, what is the point of going to a primary care doctor for medical care? Some people think that because there are so many urgent care centers and walk in clinics, having a doctor is something they do not need to do. As a consequence, many people are not even sure how to find a good doctor. Consumer Reports has listed some ways to find a doctor you can communicate with.

1. Talk to your health insurance carrier. This really should be your first step. Most health insurance companies have websites that allow you to get lists of doctors in your area who are covered by your particular plan. If you have to stay in network, having this list can be very important. This is a start but when you find a doctor you like, you should also take the time to check with them to make sure they have not changed the insurance they take. Your policy may require you to select a primary care doctor with them before you make an appointment so make sure you ask about that as well.
2. Talk to your friends and family. If you are new to an area and that is the reason you do not have a doctor, talk to the people you know and trust and they can give you their recommendations for physicians in the area. They may also have advice about walk in clinics if you need medical care before you are able to see a primary care doctor.
3. Look into what hospitals they are affiliated with. If you have a preference for a particular hospital due to its reputation or proximity to your home, you should make sure the doctor you are picking has privileges at that facility. If you do not know much about the hospitals in the area, you can get their ratings online.
4. Look at where they are located. You may find a doctor that is wonderful but if they live too far away for you to get to them, you are never going to go see them. Find out the addresses where the doctors you are considering using practice and see how easy it will to get to their offices when you need to be seen.
5. Research the doctors. It is never a bad idea to research any medical providers from the local walk in clinics the area primary care doctors. If you find one or two lawsuits against the walk in clinics or a doctor you like, you should remember that we live in a very litigious society. When you see disciplinary actions taken against them for issues such as addiction, a ton of lawsuits against them for malpractice, or if they have been accused of sexual misconduct, you should keep looking because those are warning signs that should not be ignored.
6. Take some time to talk to the doctor you are thinking about going to. The more honest you can be with your doctor about the medical problems you are having, the better the care you will receive will be. In order to get to the point where you are comfortable being completely honest with a doctor, you need to be able to trust them and be comfortable communicating with them. If you go to a doctor and you do not feel they care about answering your questions, you should continue to look for a primary care doctor.
7. Ask about the office policies. If you get really sick, how long does it take to get an appointment? Some doctors are worth going to even when it is harder to get in, you can go to walk in clinics for last-minute emergencies. The best case scenario is to find someone who can get you in right away if you need to be seen. You should also ask about their office hours and cancellation policy. Another thing to ask is how long the average wait time is when you already have an appointment.

You can find the right primary care doctor with these simple tips.