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“Doctor shopping” was once looked down upon as patients were supposed to simply take their doctor’s opinion as final. Today, with health care costs climbing, and patients feeling that they want their doctor to better understand their concerns, seeking a new medical provider has become more common.
“In recent years, patients have become more empowered to demand both good care, and a good attitude,” Dr. Mikkael Sekeres, director of the leukemia program at the Cleveland Clinic, was reported to have said in a New York Times article.
To find a new doctor, there are a number of steps you can take.
1) First, interview your friends, and even acquaintances who you think might be helpful in your search for a new doctor who fits. Also, if you are currently seeing any other doctors for other conditions, ask them who they would recommend.
2) Check with the local hospital you would plan to go to if you were sick, about doctors who have admitting privileges there. That way the doctor you find will be able to manage your care directly if you are admitted.
3) Find out if the doctor you decide to see is board certified. Board certification means a doctor has at least three years of additional training in that specialty, and has passed a certifying exam.
"Now it doesn't guarantee they're a great doctor," John Connolly, co-publisher of America's Top Doctors, said in a Bankrate article. "But at least it assures you they've had the appropriate training for that specialty."
You can find contact information for the 24 members of the American Board of Medical Specialties here.
4) When you call to make your appointment with a new doctor, be prepared to ask the staff various questions. Start by asking to speak to the office manager and then inquire about the following:
- Is this doctor in your health plan?
- How much experience does the doctor have with patients who have your condition?
- How long does it take to get follow-up appointments?
- What hours does the doctor see patients, and in off hours, how are emergencies handled? Are there other doctors in the group who would see you if your doctor isn’t available?
5) Make sure you feel comfortable talking with the staff. They are often the ones you have the most contact with, when checking for lab results or getting prescriptions. If the staff seems harried or rude, that may be a problem if you decide to stick with this doctor.
6) When you go to your first visit, pay attention to the chemistry between you and the doctor. Is he a good listener? Do you feel comfortable asking questions? Does he brush off your concerns, or dig deeper to determine why you feel the way you do?
7) If this doctor is one you chose to give you a second opinion, then tell him so, and see how he reacts. If you feel like he is uninterested, or makes light of giving you another point of view about your condition, then move on and find another doctor who seems more understanding.
Medicine and health care knowledge has grown tremendously in recent years, and it is not possible for one doctor to know everything about every medical problem. Don’t be afraid to seek out new sources of health input if you feel that your current doctor is not giving you, or is unable to give you, the most complete information about you or your family’s illnesses.
Sources:
Shopping for a Doctor Who ‘Fits’. New York Times.com. Retrieved August 17, 2015.
http://well.blogs.nytimes.com/2015/07/23/shopping-for-a-doctor-who-fits/...
How to find a good doctor. 9 steps to help you find the right doctor for you and your family. Consumer Reports.org. Retrieved August 17, 2015.
http://www.consumerreports.org/cro/2014/09/how-to-choose-a-doctor/index.htm
How to shop for a doctor. Bankrate.com. Retrieved August 17, 2015.
http://www.bankrate.com/brm/news/advice/20030324a1.asp
Michele is an R.N. freelance writer with a special interest in woman’s healthcare and quality of care issues.
Edited by Jody Smith
Add a Comment1 Comments
I just moved to a new town, and it can be hard to find a new physician in a new area. The tip to ask the staff various questions and ask to speak to the office manager was really smart and something I wouldn't have thought of. It's also good advice to make sure the doctor is board certified; I didn't realize that meant they have at least three years of extra training.
May 13, 2016 - 12:26pmThis Comment