How to Choose a Medical Doctor

You may be looking for a new medical doctor if you have changed address or you are looking for a recommendation for a friend or family member. There are a number of things to consider in order to find a doctor who will suit your personal situation.

• Consider your healthcare insurance provider. Your insurance plan may have some restrictions regarding which physicians you can choose from, they may also offer incentives to use doctors who are affiliated with the specific insurance plan. Remember to check the terms of your coverage before you begin to look for a doctor. It is also important to know whether your doctor’s office processes insurance claims or you will have to pay out of pocket and then file the claim yourself.

• Decide which type of physician you need. You may need a primary healthcare physician – this is a medical doctor who will manage your general health care needs and refer you to a specialist as and when necessary or you may need a medical doctor who specializes in a particular medical field.

• Find out if the physician you are considering is licensed with state agencies and in good standing or if there have any charges of negligence filed against them. You can check this by visiting the Administrators in Medicine website at http://www.docboard.org/aim/.

• Consider the location of the practice. Ensure that it is easy for you to get there, particularly if you need to use public transport. If you are driving make sure that there is easily accessible parking.

• Ask how long you will have to wait for an appointment and how quickly you can be seen if your situation is urgent.

• Find out if the medical office staff are friendly and helpful and how quickly they will return your call if you have a question or concern about your medical treatment. You should also ask who you can contact if you have a health concern outside of practice hours and who covers your doctor’s practice when he/she is on vacation or sick leave.

• You will need to know where routine laboratory work (such as blood tests) and x-rays are performed in case you need to go to a hospital or outside clinic.

• Find out which hospitals the doctor uses in case you need to be treated at one of these medical facilities.