How do I choose a good health care provider?
Finding a good health care provider seems to either be a matter of luck or the result of a frustrating sequence of trial and error. Health care providers are very diverse in how they practice medicine and how they interact with their patients. The trick is to find a health care provider that you trust medically and can get along with socially. If you are starting from scratch here are a few suggestions to keep in mind as you try to find your perfect health care provider.
Credentials - First and foremost on the list is that you need to make sure that the doctor you choose has been too and graduated from medical school. With the many different types of alternative medicines available, you can never be too careful with what people claim their education is in. Also, stick to the specialty you need. If you are looking for a doctor for your child make sure you are going to see a certified Pediatrician not a doctor of internal medicine.
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The Practice - Many times it is a good idea to choose a practice or a group of doctors before narrowing down your search to just one. Many group practices have 3, 4, 5 or more doctors working there. It is very easy to switch to a different doctor in the same practice if you are not happy with the first one you choose. Finding your perfect doctor this way avoids annoying record transfers and long waiting periods that most new patients have.
Emotional Intelligence - Something that some consider to be just as important as medical knowledge, but is barely mentioned in medical school is emotional intelligence. If a doctor has emotional intelligence he is tactful, sensitive, respectful and genuine in his interactions with his patience. You certainly do not feel comfortable when a doctor hardly expresses interest in your well-being at all. Good doctors can treat people like people and not just as patients.
Referrals by Nurses - Nurses provide some of the best referrals in the business because they work so closely to the doctors. It is the nurses that see the doctors at their best and their worse and know intimately what it is like to interact with them. If a doctor can treat his co-workers well, it is more likely that he is going to treat his patients kindly as well.
Referrals by Patients - Go ahead and ask around. People are more than willing to tell you what doctors to steer clear of. Many mothers are actually pickier when they are trying to find a pediatrician for their child than they are when they look for a personal doctor. Therefore, mother's groups are excellent sources for choosing a good health care provider.
Extras - Look for added bonuses like after-hours clinics, last minute emergency appointment flexibility and a comfortable waiting room environment. You cannot schedule illnesses so after-hours clinics are heaven sent when you just need to see a doctor rather than have to take a costly trip to an emergency room. Especially in the case of pediatricians, the waiting room can have a huge effect on the nerves of your children. Many pediatricians understand this and have installed fish tanks or painted murals on their walls in addition to having toys and book available to make little ones feel less afraid.
Participating Provider List - Of course you want to make sure that the health care professionals that you choose are going to be in your network of covered providers. Your insurance company should provide you with a list of physicians that accept your insurance plan. Although you can pay more and visit a doctor outside of your participating provider list, the extra charges can add up. It is very likely that of all the options you have there will be at least one health care provider that you can get along with.
