Trying to find the right doctor can be an overwhelming and daunting task. When you have a chronic condition, the doctors you pick to be on your team are absolutely vital to your care.
Of course there are many logistical things you have to consider like staying in or going out of network, knowing what you are willing to pay etc. and all of that will shape who you pick as well, but in this post we want to focus on how to pick the right doctor for you that will meet what you are needing in a provider based on their personality and qualifications.
So how do you make sure you get the right doctor for you?
Like most things, the more time you spend up front researching, asking questions and doing the work, the better the chance you will end up with what you are looking for the first time.
Below are 6 basic steps we recommend for finding the right doctor for you!
1 – DECIDE WHAT YOU ARE LOOKING FOR IN A DOCTOR
Make a list of qualities that you are looking for:
- Do you have a gender or sexual preference you would feel more comfortable with?
- Western, Eastern, Integrative, Other?
- How far away are they?
- How quick do you need an appt?
- Is it important that your doctor has evening office hours?
- Do you prefer they be associated with a specific hospital or medical center?
- Do they need to be familiar with your religion?
- Do they speak your language?
- Do you prefer a doctor who has an individual practice or one who is part of a group?
2 – MAKE A LIST OF SEVERAL POSSIBLE DOCTORS
Know your insurance coverage options.
Research which providers will be covered by your insurance company and how much and what they will pay. Make a list of the names of those that seem to meet the criteria of what you are looking for and are covered. Also find out what the cost would be for out of network providers for if you decide to go that route.
3 – RESEARCH THE DOCTOR’S BACKGROUND
Once you’ve narrowed the list down, assess the doctors’ credentials.
Are they board certified? Did they specialize in your disease type? Read their bios online and check out whether they have a social media presence or youtube lectures etc. You can learn a lot about a doctor by poking around online.
4 – RESEARCH PATIENT’S EXPERIENCE’S AND OPINION’S
Now that you have verified they have the credentials you are looking for, see what other patients have to say about them.
You can do this online via yelp, healthgrades, rate MD, vitals.com and many other sites. If it’s a very specific specialist for a certain condition, you could join a local or online support group and ask other patients. These are just opinions from other patients that may have a completely different experience than you would so take the reviews for what they are. Keep in mind though that if everyone is saying similar things about someone, take that as a red flag.
5 – CALL AND MAKE AN APPOINTMENT
Start with the your first choice and work down the list.
Now it’s time to see if they are open to new patients and the soonest they would be able to take you. It may take a few tries, but hopefully you will be able to find one that works for you and your schedule!
6 – IF YOU DON’T LIKE THE DOCTOR YOU TRIED, TRY ANOTHER
Remember they work for you, not the other way around.
It is so important to feel comfortable with your doctor and if you feel like your doctor isn’t listening to you, helping you or is belittling you in any way, know that you are allowed to find a new doctor. Don’t worry about hurting their feelings as it won’t! It is much more important for you to be with a provider that can truly help you and they would want that for you too.
CONCLUSION
We really hope these steps have given you some guidance as to how to move forward in your quest for the right doctor!
If you follow these steps though and the doctor ends up being different than what you thought, that can be disappointing. Try not to be discouraged though! There are many different doctors out there and odds are that if you continue your search following the steps above, you are bound to find the right fit for you!
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