Doctors are a crucial part of our lives. You probably won’t live in an area that doesn’t have a hospital or a doctor’s practice nearby.
For many reasons, you may need to find a doctor for yourself or a loved one. The thing is, not all doctors are the same, as they practice different branches of medicine.
That can seem to complicate your search. But it shouldn’t.
In this post, we share research tips for choosing a doctor who fits your needs.
Understand the Type of Doctor
Before choosing a doctor, it’s important to know the type of doctor you’re looking for. As we mentioned, they are not all the same, so having an idea makes things easy.
Here’s a look at different types of physicians.
- Primary Care Doctor
Primary care is geared towards everyday health issues and is considered a patient’s home base for routine ailments and checkups.
Physicians board-certified in internal medicine and family medicine can serve as primary care doctors treating common ailments.
- Family Medicine Doctor
This physician is trained in family medicine and can also be considered a primary care doctor. However, family medicine physicians are equipped to look after the healthcare needs of a whole family, from adults to newborns.
- Specialist Doctor
Specialists are physicians with additional training in specific medical fields like Pediatrics, Cardiology, and Gastroenterology. These are people your family doctor or primary care doctor refers you to for special procedures.
- Marijuana Doctor
In states with medical marijuana programs, patients usually need to meet criteria for specific conditions before qualifying for marijuana use.
These patients must be evaluated and approved by medical marijuana doctors, who are physicians trained and certified by the state to recommend or certify patients.
It’s usually easier to find marijuana doctors in your state through online databases like this one.
Ask People You Know
The people around you should be your first source of info regarding good and reliable doctors.
Ask friends, coworkers, or neighbors about their doctors to see if they fit the bill. This is a quick way to get recommendations.
Look into Reputation
If you’re not sure about a doctor’s reputation, you can find out before making any decision. Your state has a licensing agency through which physicians are authorized to practice.
Administrators in Medicine can provide info about doctors you’re considering. You’ll find out if a particular doctor is not in good standing with the state medical licensure board.
Other sites like Healthgrades can provide more information on the doctor’s credentials, including malpractice-related issues.
Check Your Insurance Plan
You may want to confirm whether your health plan allows you to work with physicians outside your provider’s network. This is something to look into during your research, as you may end up paying more out of pocket if you deviate from your plan’s network of doctors and facilities.
Now, unless there aren’t doctors near you who take your plan, it’s easier and better to find a doctor in your provider’s network because they are less costly and charge your insurance plan.
You can find an in-network doctor near you through your insurance company’s list of doctors they work with. It would also make sense to call ahead to confirm if, indeed, the physician takes your plan.
The Patient List
When choosing a doctor, it’s important to know whether they are taking on new patients and how busy they are with their current patients. It’s better to go with a doctor who doesn’t have so much on their plate.
Ultimately, you want someone who can sufficiently care for your health needs.
Consider Location
Location is important when it comes to health care. So when choosing a doctor, consider how close to you they are because it is critical for urgent care.
Getting to the doctor’s location should be easy using private means and public transportation. It’s also not unreasonable to ask about parking space because you don’t want to drive around looking for a parking spot while unwell.
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Final Thoughts
Choosing a doctor you’re comfortable with is important as they are someone you trust with your health needs. If you still have concerns even after doing some research, you could book an appointment to see the doctor in person and get some of your questions answered.
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