According to the Agency for Healthcare and Research and Quality (AHRQ), the difference in quality and convenience between doctors can vary greatly and affect the kinds of services you receive. It's important that you feel comfortable with your doctor so that you can freely discuss personal health care issues. There are a number of steps you can take to choose a good primary care physician and effective specialists.
Step 1
Decide what is most important to you and your family. For many people, the qualifications and experience of a doctor are more important than her bedside manner. The AHRQ reports that other patients prefer their doctors have specialized experience in treating their specific conditions. Still others prefer a doctor with whom they feel comfortable talking freely.
Step 2
Consider other issues that will help you choose a good doctor. The National Institutes of Health suggests asking yourself if you prefer a male or female doctor and one who is older or younger. Consider whether you are looking for a solo practitioner or one who works in a practice with a team. Also consider location and how far you want to drive for each appointment.
Step 3
Get referrals from your local hospital or clinic and talk to friends, coworkers and family members about their doctors. Ask about the kinds of conditions their doctors treat and how they like the service they receive. Find out how long people wait when they arrive for an appointment and how the office staff treats them.
Step 4
Make a list of doctors that meet your qualifications and call their offices to find out if they accept your insurance, are taking new patients and have privileges at the hospital you prefer. Ask how long it takes to get an appointment and whether the office calls with reminders. Check the doctor's training and qualifications on the American Medical Association website.
Step 5
Make an appointment with the doctor that seems to meet all of your requirements. Bring a list of questions so that you won't leave without answers. The AHRQ suggests that patients trust their instincts during this initial meeting and treat the appointment like an interview. Ask yourself how easy it was to talk with the doctor, whether she let you ask questions and provided sufficient answers, and whether you left feeling positive about the encounter.
Tips and Warnings
- Don't be afraid to leave a doctor with whom you've lost trust or don't like. Not everyone appreciates the same qualities in physicians.
- Understand that if you leave your primary care physician or specialist, you must transfer all medical records to a new doctor and usually start from the beginning building a relationship, getting a new diagnosis and beginning treatment with the new doctor.
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