Whether you live in Alexandria, Virginia, or if you are visiting, the last thing you want to do is to be in need of medical attention and not know where to turn. It's best to finding proper medical resources before you have an emergency.
First, create a list of priorities. Different people value different things in the service from a doctor's office. Certainly cost is a factor, but you don't want to sacrifice knowledge, bedside manner, thoroughness or the friendliness of the office staff. Make a list of the things that are important to you in a doctor.
Insurance
Many insurance companies have guidelines within their plans that dictate which doctors they cover. This is the best place to start if you don't want to get stuck with an unwanted medical bill. The providers directory issued by your insurance company is a logical place to start. Pick the top three based on your priorities.
Solicit Recommendations
Ask your friends, coworkers, and family members if they like their physicians. Then ask them why. Make sure that you both have the same priorities when choosing a doctor. Depending on your comfort level, don't forget to put your social networks to use, reaching out to friends on sites like Facebook and Twitter. Some people can't wait to rave about their family doctors.
Use the Internet as a Resource
This is one of those occasions where the internet can be your friend. You can run a quick search on a physician to find out if there are any issues with the physician you are looking at. The American Medical Association offers a doctor finder which tells you the physician's specialty, hospital privileges, medical school, and residency training. Information about physician licensure can be obtained from the Virginia Department of Health Professions. You can also visit hospital websites such as the one for Inova Health System and look for a doctor there. A link is in the Resources section. You can find links for the Inova Health Systems and the American Medical Association directory, as well as the link to the Virginia Department of Health Professions in the Resources section.
Have a Heart-to-Heart
Call the physician. Get a read on how pleasant the front desk staff is, how easy is it to make an appointment, and how responsive the staff is to your questions. You also want to know how quickly the doctor can see you or if they are accepting new patients at all. If you have insurance, be sure to double-check that the doctor accepts your insurance. Some doctors are amenable to a consultation ahead of time, where you can find out if the doctor fits your personality.
Remember, you don't have to make an appointment if you don't feel completely comfortable. There are other fish in the sea.
Free services
There are also free services available to the insured and underinsured. Don't let the lack of health insurance prevent you from seeking medical care. The Flora Krause Casey Health Center offers fees based on a sliding scale depending on eligibility and need. The main office of the Alexandria Health Department also offers public health services including vaccines, family planning services and nutrition services.
The Alexandria Neighborhood Health Services Inc. serves anyone needing medical, dental or mental health care, regardless of age, income, health insurance, place of residence or ability to pay. You can find links to both the Alexandria Health Department, as well as the Alexandria Neighborhood Health Services Inc. in the Resources section.
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