The first thing you might do when searching for a doctor in western Oklahoma is to simply pick up the Yellow Pages. The listings make a good base point to start at, but perhaps you want to know more details about specific doctors. Or perhaps you don't live in the area but need to find a doctor for a relative or other reasons.
Type of Doctor
Determine what kind of doctor you need. Your search will be considerably easier if you are looking for a specialist--such as cardiologist or neurologist. If you are searching for a general health checkup, refine your search for a family physician. Searching just for a doctor will yield so many results that you may be overwhelmed and become frustrated.
Online Resources
The Oklahoma Medical Board allows you to search doctors by specialty, county and license. The doctor you choose should be board-certified and have a medical license. The Oklahoma Medical Board's website also lists disciplinary action back to 1984. The site is updated three times a day. Services such as MDNationwide will provide you with a doctor's training, awards, education, any malpractice history, license status and board-certification status for a fee. Contact the American Board of Medical Specialties, a nonprofit organization composed of 24 medical specialty boards, by calling or visiting the website (abms.org).
Insurance
Contact your insurance company. Selecting a doctor within your insurance company's network may make treatment less expensive.
Hospitals
Check out the area hospitals, such as Weatherford Regional Hospital, which serves western Oklahoma. The hospital's website allows you to search for physicians by specialty or alphabetical order. Even if you don't find a suitable doctor at a hospital, staff may be able to point you toward a doctor who will fit your needs.
Interviews
Talk to other patients about their experiences with a particular doctor. Interview as many doctors as you wish to get a feel for their treatment plans and how they interact with their patients. Ask them about similar cases to yours and how successful they were. If your condition will require you to have surgery or otherwise spend time in a hospital, be sure to also check out the facility. Determine if you will feel comfortable during your stay. Ask any questions that come to mind.
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