HOW TO CHOOSE A DOCTOR
Choose A Doctor How To
When you’re new to town or need a specialist, it’s hard to know
how to find just the right physician for you and your family. Asking friends or family for recommendations is a start, but there are many variables to consider when choosing a new physician.
• Check Credentials – To inquire about a physician’s schooling and training, and whether he/she is board certified in a particular specialty, call the local medical society or check the Directory of Medical Specialists in the library. Another useful resource is the American Board of Medical Specialties,
www.abms.org or 866-275-2267.
• Check Hospital Affiliations – Does the physician practice at the hospital of your choice? Check the provider list and call the physician’s office to verify.
• Introductory Meeting – During your initial consultation, ask questions such as: When does he/she receive or return phone calls? How are prescription refills handled? What are the office hours? How and when are referrals made to other physicians? How are urgent appointments handled?
• Doctor’s Education – Where did you attend medical school? What kind of graduate medical education, including residencies and fellowships, did you complete, and when? What specialties are you eligible for or Board certified in? Do you hold faculty appointments? Additional medical education/training?
• Practice Information – What is your primary area of practice? How long have you been in practice? What medical groups are you affiliated with?
• Participation in Health Plans – Do you participate in Medicaid? Medicare? Tricare? PPOs? HMOs? Which ones? Will you accept my insurance coverage? Who files my claims?
• Disciplinary Actions – Have you been subjected to discipline by the Florida Board of Medicine, Florida Board of Osteopathic Medicine, or other professional boards from other states in the past five years? (If yes, ask for a full explanation of the circumstances.)
• Professional Liability Judgments and Settlements – Have you been subjected to any professional liability judgments or settlements that led to disciplinary actions by the Florida Board of Medicine, or the Board of Osteopathic Medicine? (If yes, compare their record against other physicians in similar specialties and practices, with similar years of experience. This may not directly reflect on the quality of care the physician provides. Certain high-risk specialties, such as obstetrics and neurosurgery, experience more lawsuits than others.)
• Criminal Convictions – Have you been convicted of any felonies or serious misdemeanors? (If yes, ask for a full explanation of the circumstances.)
• Things to Observe – Is the office staff friendly and approachable? Can you schedule an appointment at your convenience? What languages are spoken in the office? If interviewing a physician for your child, is the office “child friendly”? Are there toys and books to keep kids busy? Are there childproofing/safety measures in place? Does the staff seem attentive to and like children?
46 Once you’ve decided on a physician,
don’t forget to have your or your child’s medical records transferred from your previous doctor to the new office. Your new physician will need complete records in order to have an accurate picture of your family’s health history.
2012-2013 The Greater Daytona Healthcare GuideTM
Heritage Publishing, Inc. © 2012
PHYSICIANS & SURGEONS
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