Selecting a physician is a daunting but important task. You want to find someone you can trust to provide advice or treatment that may save your life. It pays to do some research instead of randomly selecting a physician from your health plan's list or other directory. A survey in Consumer Reports found that those most satisfied with their care discovered their doctor through someone they trusted. Asking friends, family members, coworkers and other doctors for recommendations is a great place to start your search.
After you have names of some potential physicians, you will want to consider a few other factors.
Factors to Consider When Selecting a Doctor
Qualifications: Decide whether you would prefer a general practitioner or specialist. You also may want a doctor who is board certified in a particular area. This means he or she has received additional training in a specialty and passed a competency exam in that field. The American Board of Medical Specialties can confirm whether a doctor is certified.
Background: You may want to consider how many years a physician has been in practice. Additionally, you can search a doctor's license status and disciplinary history on the Arizona Medical Board's website to discover any instances of reported medical negligence.
Hospital Privileges: If you have a particular hospital you prefer, you should check to make sure the doctor you select has privileges there. This means they are permitted to practice medicine at the facility.
Insurance: Check to make sure your insurance plan covers the doctor you have chosen. If you cannot use insurance, find out the costs for appointments and procedures.
Coverage: Discuss with the office how often your physician may be unavailable and who you will see in their place. You want to make sure you are comfortable with any substitutes.
Convenience: Consider the clinic location, hours, and whether routine lab work and x-rays can be performed at the office. You may also want to find out the amount of time it takes to get a routine appointment and whether you can be seen on the same day if you have an urgent need.
After you chosen a doctor and had your first appointment, reflect on your visit. Were you comfortable with the physician and how they communicated with you? Did the doctor listen to your concerns and answer your questions clearly? From what you observed, did the doctor observe hygiene standards like using disposable gloves or washing hands before and after an examination? Don't be afraid to move on to a different physician if you were not satisfied with your medical treatment. You may save yourself time or even avoid serious instances of medical malpractice by carefully evaluating your physician.
