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Do you have complex medical issues and have trouble getting your family doctor to address all of your needs? Some doctors only want to handle one medical condition or issue at one time, only to refer you to a future appointment. This can be time-consuming and costly, not to mention puts your health at risk. Or another scenario could be that your doctor may not be familiar with your medical condition or diagnosis and needs to refer you out to another health care professional. Whatever the circumstances are, here are a few tips on finding the right doctor that will treat your specific needs.
Talk to Your Insurance Company
One of the first steps you need to take if you’re looking for a new doctor is to talk to your health insurance provider. Explain to them that you are no longer satisfied with your doctor not resolving your existing medical issues, and it’s not beneficial to continue visiting him. Start off with asking about your coverage and make sure you can budget your new doctor visit. If it’s to a specialist in a specialized clinic or office, it may be more costly than a general practitioner. Be sure you know these facts first. You may be required to meet your deductible or pay out of pocket to see a specialist, like a sports medicine doctor or neurologist. Your insurance company will then guide you to a group of doctors in your network. From there, you will be able to narrow down the location and doctor that may be able to help you with your complex medical condition. Be prepared for a wait with some doctors. It’s important to not stop seeing your current doctor until after you’ve seen the new one. That way he can still prescribe your medications and order tests so you don’t fall out of care or coverage.
Visit a Multidisciplinary Clinic
Visiting a doctor that continues to overlook your symptoms such as dizziness or chronic pain can put you at risk for serious health complications. For example, if you’ve recently been diagnosed with cancer, but you also have other underlying medical problems, finding a team of doctors who work in unison is important for a continuum of care. This is why when searching for a new doctor, you find one that is part of a multidisciplinary team. They will be able to focus on your main health care needs while also addressing underlying problems too. Doctors work together with different areas of expertise to help provide you the best care and coordinate visits and medical care for you together. For example, your cardiovascular doctor will monitor your heart valve problem while coming up with the best course of treatment for your cancer with your oncology team. They meet together regularly and discuss your case and also remain updated on your health through other doctors within that hospital and clinic.
Speak to Others About Their Doctors
Have you heard a lot of good things about a specific doctor? Maybe you have to have some suspicious moles removed and you’re concerned about scaring and your appearance. If you’ve talked with someone who has had success with a particular dermatologist or facial surgeon, you may want to ask for their contact information. Just like with other businesses, word of mouth advertising and discussion is equally important when it comes to doctor referrals. This gives you a firsthand glimpse of how the doctor handles his patients and what types of services are available.
Research Your Doctor
Before switching doctors, it’s up to you to do the research needed to make sure your doctor has a successful business and career. This means looking up his license number, checking his credentials, the type of schooling he had as well as his internship. From there, look at how long he’s been practicing medicine. Is he fresh out of his residency? Did he do a lot of research and development in your particular disease or condition? Start with his profile on his clinic or hospital page. This should be public information and will offer important facts about when he graduated, where he has practiced and what his specialties are in medicine. If everything checks out and there is an interest, he may be the right doctor for you. You can also search his name online to check for any discrepancies or disciplinary actions in the recent past.
Finding a doctor that is specific to your health care needs is important to optimal care. If you find your doctor can’t help you, ask him for a referral or keep searching for one who can.
About The Author:
Jan Vespremi is a freelance blogger & has been blogging since a young age. She loves to write more than anything else. If she’s not at a concert listening to her favorite musicians, then chances are, she’s typing away on her MacBook. Jan does an excellent job of writing content that appeals to all types of readers.
