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How to Find “Dr. Right”

Your relationship with your primary care doctor is one of the most important relationships you will ever have. That’s because your doctor is your main health care provider—the person you trust to treat you when you’re sick, provide preventive care to keep you healthy, remind you of important screenings and immunizations, and refer you to specialists if you need them.

Your doctor should be your partner in good health. For best results, your relationship with your doctor should be long term. So choose this person carefully. It’s important to find a doctor you like, who will treat you well through the years.

Starting your search

The first step in finding a primary care doctor is to determine what type of doctor you need. You have several options:

• General practitioners—doctors who treat a wide range of medical problems in people of all ages.
• Family practitioners—similar to general practitioners, these doctors have additional training to care for all family members, young and old.
• Internists—doctors who focus on the care of adults, and who may specialize in one particular area, such as cardiology or rheumatology.
• Obstetricians/gynecologists—these doctors often serve as primary care doctors for women, especially those of child-bearing age.
• Pediatricians—doctors who specialize in the care of newborns, infants, children, and adolescents.
• Geriatricians—doctors who care for older adults.

 

If you have health insurance or belong to a managed health plan, check to see if it maintains a list of preferred (or “in-network”) health care providers. Preferred providers are health care professionals who have partnered with your insurance plan to deliver services at reduced rates. You’ll want to choose a doctor that participates in your plan (look in the plan’s handbook or on its website) unless you can afford to pay extra.

Some health plans and health care facilities offer doctor profiles on their websites. These profiles can tell you about a doctor’s education, work history, office location, and maybe even some personal facts to help you get to know him or her. Additional online resources include the “Doctorfinder” feature of the American Medical Association (AMA)’s website and www.healthfinder.gov from the U.S. Department of Health & Human Services.

Family, friends, neighbors, and co-workers are yet another good source for recommendations. Co-workers are especially helpful because they have the same health insurance and access to providers that you do.

Whatever methods you use to search for a new doctor, be sure to jot down a list of names so you have several options to choose from if your first choice is not accepting new patients.

Checking credentials

Few things are as important as your health, so you’ll want yours to be in good hands. You can check on a prospective doctor’s skills and experience using the “Doctorfinder” feature of the AMA’s website (www.ama-assn.org), which provides information about a doctor’s training, specialties, and whether or not the doctor is board certified.

“Board certified” doctors have completed training in a specialty and passed an exam to certify their knowledge and skills in that specialty. To maintain their certification, doctors must enroll in continuing education courses and pass periodic exams. Keep in mind that although board certification is a good indicator of a doctor’s knowledge, it is not imperative and many people receive quality care from doctors who are not board certified. Visit the American Board of Medical Specialties website (www.abms.org) or call 1-800-776-2378 for more information.

Interviewing prospects

Once you’ve gathered the names of some doctors, it’s time to make some calls. Ask questions of the office staff to find out if the doctor may be right for you. Such as:

• Is the doctor accepting new patients?
• Does the doctor participate in your health insurance plan?
• Is the doctor well trained and experienced?
• Is the doctor’s office located near work or home?
• What are the doctor’s office hours?
• Who covers for the doctor when he or she is not available?
• Which hospitals does the doctor use? Are they a part of your health plan?
• Will the office bill your insurance for you? Or are you expected to pay up-front for services and file the claims yourself?
• In general, how long will you wait to see the doctor after you call?
• Are X-rays and lab tests conducted in-office, or will you have to go to another facility?

 

You might also request an appointment to “interview” a potential doctor. (It’s a good idea to first ask if there will be a copayment or other small charge for this privilege.) Many pediatricians will take time to meet with you, while most internists will not. Some pediatric practices occasionally host open-house events that give you the chance to meet and talk with the group’s providers.

Your first visit

Your first visit is your best opportunity to make sure your new doctor is truly the one for you. Be prepared. Bring information about your health history (including a list of health problems that run in your family, all medications you’re taking, and any symptoms you’re currently experiencing) and don’t be afraid to ask questions. Open communication is key to a healthy patient/doctor relationship, and it’s a two-way street.

Pay attention to whether or not you feel comfortable with the doctor, and ask yourself afterward:

Did the doctor . . .

• Listen to my concerns?
• Encourage me to ask questions?
• Talk to me in terms I could understand?
• Address the health problems I asked about?
• Involve me in my treatment decisions?

Remember, your primary care doctor is your partner for good health. It’s important that you can trust this person and that you feel comfortable with the care you receive.

As with any relationship, it may take some time to decide whether your new doctor is the one for you. If after the first few visits you aren’t convinced, keep looking. Somewhere out there, your “Dr. Right” is waiting!