The best way to find a doctor in Texas is through a referral from a friend or family member. In the absence of a personal referral, various free resources are available on the web to locate doctors in every part of the state. Before choosing a doctor make a list of requirements and questions. Contact any potential doctors and make sure that they meet all requirements before making an appointment.
Online Doctor Searches
The DocBoard.org site allows users to search for a doctor by name or license number. The search by name feature can be used with a whole name or just the first few letters of the last name. The site is most helpful when trying to look up information about a doctor that you are already considering. The site offers information like medical school, age, specialty and address. The Dallas County Medical Society also offers a web search for area doctors. At Dallas-CMS.org users can search by doctor name, zip code or specialty. The site returns a list of matching doctors, including a small profile containing information about their schooling, specialties, hospital affiliations and contact information. Some profiles even contain a photo of the doctor.
Insurance Considerations
Many health insurance companies, such as Blue Cross Blue Shield of Texas (BCBSTX.com), allow their members to search for in-network doctors and specialists online or over the phone. Company websites and phone numbers can be found on the backside of your insurance card. Doctors can usually be searched by area, specialty or name.
Hospital Affiliation
If there is a specific hospital that you or your family needs to use, whether for location or insurance purposes, it helps to make sure that your doctor is associated with that hospital before becoming a patient. Many hospital websites, like the Texas Children's Hospital site, TexasChildrens.org, offer a doctor directory. The Children's Hospital site allows searches by last name or specialty.
Rural Areas
According to a January 2010 article in the Texas Tribune, rural areas in Texas are struggling to find and hold on to new doctors. A state law has prohibited hospitals from hiring doctors, making it hard for recent medical school graduates to serve rural areas. With student loans to pay back, new doctors simply cannot afford to open their own practices, and there are very few existing practices for them to join. It might be necessary, if you live in a rural area, to seek out a doctor who practices 50 or even 100-plus miles away.
Questions to Ask
Once you have a list of potential doctors, you need to make a list of questions to ask before making your final decision. Common questions include types of insurance accepted, hours, appointment lead times, cancellation policy and payment policy. It is also important to tell the doctor about any existing conditions that you or your family may have. If the doctor cannot treat your conditions, he might be able to refer you to a doctor who can.
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