Whether you are bound by an HMO directory or free to choose as you wish, finding the right doctor for you and your family is a critical, and sometimes overwhelming, decision.
In just my tiny little county in northern Virginia, the skimpy little community phone book lists over 140 businesses in the health care profession. That's a lot of doctors to choose from. I don't know about you, but I have trouble just making the choice of what to cook for dinner. How would I possibly figure out which practice is right for my family out of 140?
Fortunately, I have lots of experience with this. For the past seven years, my family and I have been living without health insurance and if it has taught me one thing it's that research is everything. Even if you have health insurance you should take the stance that ultimately you, and no one else – especially not your HMO, is responsible for the health care of your family.
Here are some tips for selecting the doctor/practice that will best fit your family's needs:
Run it up the flagpole: My husband likens me and my friends to a bunch of clucking hens, but the truth is that they are my best source of information for any topic. Ask everyone you know (in your local area) who their doctor is and what they think about that person, their staff and their practice as a whole. Take notes if you can – positive information is as helpful as negative information.
Cold Calling: Select a few practices that seem the most inviting to you and give them a call. Ask them some questions like 'Are you accepting new patients?', 'Do you accept my insurance (if you have it)?', 'Is the doctor male or female (if you can't tell by their phone listing)?', 'Where did the doctor earn his/her degree?', etc. Some of their answers may make no difference to you but just interacting with a staff member at the practice can give you a good feeling for the atmosphere there. If they are patient and knowledgeable on the phone, you'll likely find the same attitude in person, but if they are terse or just can't seem to answer anything you may want to reconsider.
Go Magnum, P.I.: Be your own sleuth – do a background check on every doctor you are considering. A great place to find out vital information on any doctor is at the FDA. Click on this link and select your state. Somewhere on that page should be a link to doctor profiles or license lookup – if you have trouble finding it try Googling by your state and "doctor profile". You'll be asked to type in some information like the doctor's name, county of practice location and perhaps their field of specialty. Search results should tell you whether or not that person has a valid license to practice medicine, where and when they went to medical school and (very importantly) if they've ever had any sort of violations, convictions or serious claims out against them. For dental professionals, go to www.healthguideusa.org/state_dental_boards.htm and click on your state.
Judge a Book by its Cover: Mama said never to do this, but I find it works with doctors. I like to drive around and take a look at the type of office space a practice is in, the neighborhood it's located in, etc. You'll get a good feel for a practice by knowing if it's in a section of town you're comfortable with – or not, if it's large or small, new or old, well-maintained or falling apart. Personally, I like the older buildings that are reasonably maintained and located in the older, but not gone-to-the-dogs part of town. I always feel like big, brand-spankin' new buildings are a show of how much money a practice is making off of their patients. For you, it may be different, but check it out and see what gut impression a doctor's physical location gives you.
Drop on In: You don't have to be a patient to drop in and get information from a practice. If your driving experience brings you to a practice that catches your eye and feels inviting, take the invitation and walk in. Tell the receptionist that you are considering becoming a patient. Ask a few questions like what are their payment policies, cancellation policies, what an average annual physical costs, etc. Don't spend too much time – they tend to be busy places at times – but get a good feel for what they're like in person an observe how they talk to others in the waiting room as well. If they don't seem too busy and you still have a good feeling in your gut, ask for a tour.
The best part about finding a great doctor is knowing that you shouldn't have any surprises, you did your homework and know that you found a doctor that is well-qualified, properly licensed and runs a smoothly-operating practice. Unfortunately, it doesn't always work out for one reason or another. In the event that this happens to you just remember that your loyalty must be earned, so check out one of the other practices you investigated and just keep trying until you get it right. Knowing and feeling that you are well-cared for by your healthcare professional is essential.
About Jennifer: One of my favorite quotes of all time is from a John Lennon song: Life is what happens while you’re busy making other plans. While I always fancied myself earning fame and fortune as a novelist, writing fanciful chick-lit-type humorous books that sprang forth from my own imagination, I seem to have found my niche in writing non-fictional things (everything from blogs to magazine articles to books) that help people learn about great life topics.
You’ll find some of my articles here that have a mix of healthcare and green living, but for once in my life, I have the ability to be in several places at once (if only I could do this as a parent, too!). You also find me at: CalFinder, Domestic Adivah, and on Twitter.
And hopefully soon you’ll be able to find me in your local book store – I wrote a book on how to find quality, affordable healthcare without health insurance (it’s also got a lot of great tips for people who have health insurance) – it’s tentatively called Bargaining for Our Lives, with the alternative title No Health Insurance? No Problem. My goal is to get it out in 2010.
When I can tear myself from the shackles of my laptop, I serve as the world’s best taxi/maid/personal chef service provider (aka Mom). My four boys (two tweens, one furry and the one with the matching wedding band) make everything I do in and around our Virginia countryside home, as well as in cyberspace, worthwhile and adventurous.
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Finding the right doctor can be really hard. We have had to go through a few doctors to find the right one, but now nothing would make us switch!
Those are excellent tips!
And I'm so excited to see you writing here
Best of luck with that book, I will certainly be purchasing it when it's available.