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There are any number of reasons why someone needs to find a new doctor. When an aging senior must move in with a family member, he or she may need to leave their community and their local resources. Other times, a doctor may retire or move to another location, which has happened to my dad more than once.
The task of finding a suitable doctor can sometime prove a tad daunting, especially if you live in a small town with limited choices. Many doctors no longer take new patients due to their current heavy workload.
The other scenario is when someone moves to a large city and has a number of physicians to consider. Here are five tips to help you make the right choice.
Starting your search
Check with your health care provider to see who accepts your type of insurance. Also, call the local medical society for a list of doctors they recommend, whether you are looking for a general practitioner or a specialist.
If you have friends, relatives, or acquaintances in the area, check with them for their preferences. Word of mouth is powerful when seeking a new health care provider.
Location is important. Find someone who is near where you live. Find out what hospital he or she has privileges at or where they are on staff so that it is easier for you when you need tests or x-rays. Also, if you end up as an inpatient, you want the best care possible.
Interview your potential choice(s)
Years ago, I worked for a general practitioner. Occasionally, when a new family moved to town, they would make an appointment with each of the two local doctors just to find out which one they preferred. Meeting someone face to face is the best indicator whether your personalities will jive or conflict.
Make sure you find someone that will take time to listen to your concerns. If you feel you are being rushed, that may not be the right choice for you. All doctors are busy, but you can always tell which ones are willing to listen and seem to care more about you than trying to get through their schedule as quickly as possible.
Your potential new physician must have communication skills that make you feel comfortable. Don’t settle for anyone that causes you concern. You want, and need, a relationship with your physician that is built on respect and trust.
Get the most from each visit
Many times you may only get ten or fifteen minutes with your doctor, so you must make the most of each visit. Here are five tips to make sure your needs are taken care of:
- Make a list of your symptoms. Be able to describe in detail how you feel, if you have any pain and where it is located, and how long you have had the symptoms.
- Make a list of questions. Keep a notepad handy and write down any questions you have prior to the visit. Check off each item during your visit. There is nothing more frustrating than getting home and realizing your questions weren’t answered because you forgot to ask.
- Make sure you have a list of all medications. One of my dad’s doctors has everyone bring in their medications for each visit. Seniors, especially, walk in with their bag full of bottles. The nurse routinely goes through each bottle to make sure nothing has changed between visits.
- Make sure you are honest about what is going on with your health. Don’t sugar coat the problem, but also, do not exaggerate the symptoms. You don’t want to be under or over medicated or pay for unnecessary tests. And, you especially don’t want a wrong diagnosis.
- Make sure you understand what your doctor is telling you. If you are unsure what he or she is saying, ask questions. Don’t be too embarrassed to ask them for further clarification. Take notes if you need to in order to help you remember what was discussed.
Finding a new doctor is usually not an easy task. Unless you are lucky enough to receive a strong recommendation from a trusted friend, the search may take a while.
Unless you are in an emergency situation, take your time, check out the doctor’s credentials, and try to make an interview-type appointment prior to setting up regular appointments. You and your loved one will be glad you took the time to go through the vetting process.
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2 responses so far ↓
1 Kaye Swain // Sep 27, 2009 at 6:45 pm
Hi, Thanks for the great list. I’ll be saving this for future reference when we need to find a new doctor. One other thing I learned to ask about the last time we switched – if you have regular Medicare it can sometimes be difficult to find a doctor who has room available for another Medicare patient, so I learned to ask about that as one of the first questions.
2 Edie // Oct 1, 2009 at 2:52 pm
We live in a small town and would like to change doctors, but there are so few who will take new patients. Dad doesn’t feel like he is getting the care he needs, yet Medicare is a problem. You are right – that does need to be one of the first questions for those who are on Medicare.