One of the most personal and, eventually, emotionally-charged relationships you will have in life is with your doctor. Even if you like your doctor or your child’s pediatrician, there will come a time when your emotions will be raw from health concerns and you will need to trust that relationship implicitly. But, often the hardest part is finding just the right doctor. Because the tools for rating doctors are still very new and subjective, it takes some research and patience on your part but your doctor is out there so keep looking! Here are a few tips to help in your search.
Start with your insurance provider's directory. This can help you to identify basic characteristics about location and specialties but your search shouldn’t end there. A health care provider directory is too limited in description for a final decision.
Next, make a list of your requirements for a physician. What is important to you? If the search is for your personal doctor then get recommendations from friends and family members who have similar preferences concerning their doctor as you do. I recall referring a friend to my OB when she became pregnant with her first child. I loved that doctor but my friend did not. It turns out that my friend and I have two very different views of how a doctor’s visit should run. I prefer a friendly “just the facts”, no deep investigation, in-and-out-in-five-minutes visit. My friend, however, as a new mom, wanted more involvement, more detail, than I prefer. In the end, it wasn’t a good match for her. If you don’t mind being in and out of the doctor’s office with no more than informal chit-chat and the necessary medical information from the nurses and doctors, then talk to friends who prefer the same thing. Would you rather your doctor ask probing questions and spend more personalized time with you? Then find a family member with a similar requirement and get the name of their doctor. Does the doctor have privileges at the hospital that you would choose for admission? Know what you prefer and ask around with those specific characteristics in mind.
If the search is for your child’s pediatrician, you are often able to schedule an “interview” with the doctor before you choose. A few things to consider when searching for a pediatrician are:
- Does the doctor seem to enjoy working with children? (you’d be surprised how many do not!)
- Are you comfortable with the office/reception staff? They are your first line of communication; you should feel welcomed when talking with them.
- Does the doctor seem to know about the latest medical advances?
- Does the doctor welcome questions?
- Does the doctor have experience and appreciation for your child’s particular health condition?
- Does the doctor take time to discuss problems and listen to your concerns?
- Is the doctor condescending or patronizing if you have decided to use alternative treatments in conjunction with conventional medicine?
- How long is the typical wait time?
- If desired, will they accommodate a delayed/modified vaccination schedule?
- Do you know and like the other doctors in the practice?
- Is the waiting room clean and kid-appropriate?
Read review sites. Sites such as Consumer Checkbook and Public Citizen’s Physician’s Accountability Site for any disciplinary or ethical concerns about the doctors you’ve chosen. If you are looking for a specialist, call the American Medical Association to ensure that he/she is board certified in the specialty in which they practice. This will ensure sufficient training in their area of expertise. If you are near a large hospital or medical school, look for a doctor who has teaching responsibilities. They are more likely to have exposure to the most current medical advances. Ask you primary care physicians who they would recommend for a particular service. They often have a list of doctors that they have worked with regularly and know well. America’s Top Doctors is also a helpful site if you are located near a metropolitan region.
One area of medicine in which the need out-weighs the number of available doctors is integrative medicine (a combination of natural and conventional medicine). It can be difficult to locate a doctor who practices or, at least, appreciates this field of medicine. Medical institutions such as the University of Arizona Medical School and Thomas Jefferson Health Systems in Philadelphia are beginning to take notice and incorporate integrative medicine options into their practices. If you live in an area where integrative medicine is a new frontier, it could help to do an internet search for these types of programs and call to speak with one of their physicians. They may have a contact in your area. Another option is to search for a provider on the American Holistic Medical Association’s website. Their listing is not comprehensive but it is a good start. Speaking with people who may prefer this type of medicine such as yoga instructors, acupuncturists, chiropractors and employees at natural food stores may also yield a good recommendation.
A few final considerations. Trust your gut instincts. If you are not comfortable with your doctor or your child’s pediatrician or specialist then find a new one. Sticking with a doctor despite your concerns will lead to anxiety and potentially put you or your family at risk. You will be less likely to be completely open and honest about your health or the health of your child and you will not schedule regular and necessary appointments. Don’t be afraid to speak up. A doctor may have gone to medical school but they are not without fault. We are beyond the generations who blindly trusted their physicians. You know yourself and/or your child best and if something doesn’t seem right then question it. I knew it was time to change pediatricians when, despite my son’s obvious milk allergy, his doctor told me to continue giving my son cow’s milk because he “needed the calcium”. All doctors are not created equal. If you find yourself between doctors and you or your child falls ill, don’t panic. Look for an urgent care clinic in your area. Often they are less expensive, even without insurance, than going to the emergency room and can assist you with a large range of medical conditions. Their physicians are quite skilled and if your problem is out of their abilities, they will call an ambulance and have you transported immediately to a local ER.
Taking the time to find just the right doctor for you can seem daunting but you are your own best advocate. In the long run, the extra effort will be worth it to find a lasting relationship with a trusted doctor.
Kim is the wife of one rockin' Worship Pastor and full-time mom to four crazy and beautiful kids. Toss in a part-time job, housework, writing, training for a foster care license and what passes for a social life these days and she’s still wondering how she fits 32 hours into a 24 hour day.
