Finding The Right Doctor For You

There may be a number of factors that occur causing you to seek out a new physician. Finding a good fit for you and your family can be frustrating, especially if you are new to a community! Asking for recommendations from family or friends is always a good place to start. But, ultimately, it may take a little more digging and experience to find the perfect match.

One of the first things to look at, if you have it, is your insurance. Insurance providers often have a strict network of doctors and specialists that you can see to remain within your coverage. If he or she does not belong to your network, look at how much the cost of care could end up being. You may also want to ask if the office processes insurance claims or if you will have to pay up front and then process the claim yourself for reimbursement.

You will also need to decide what type of physician you are looking for. Do you need a primary doctor or are you needing a specialist? If you have insurance, you will most likely have to get a referral from your primary doctor before being able to see a specialist. Be sure to check with your insurance provider to learn the process so you can avoid major out of pocket expenses.

Once you have determined the cost factor of finding a new doctor, further narrow down the list by looking up online reviews. A quick search can offer you other patient’s opinions and even new stories that may be important. You can even do a search to determine if your potential doctor has ever had any criminal charges or disciplinary action taken against them by the various medical licensure boards. Do a search for your state’s medical board listings or use a site such as Administrators in Medicine (http://docboard.org/aim/) to help guide your search to the right places. This information is deemed public knowledge so you should have no issues finding out what you need to.

Besides monetary and good medical practice issues, there are a few other things to keep in mind when making a decision. Ask the office staff what the typical wait time is to get an appointment. If it’s several days out, you may try finding a doctor or an office that has a quicker turn around. A lot of this can be affected by the size of your town and how many doctor offices are available. While this may not be a major determining factor in the long run, it is definitely information that you should consider in your decision. Are the office staff helpful and courteous? Since you will be dealing with them a significant amount to fill out paperwork, be discharged, and more, make sure you feel comfortable.

Sometimes it may take trial and error and a few office visits to find the perfect medical fit for you. Do your best to research a doctor before making your initial visit. If you do decide that you do not like them for whatever reason, remember that it is your right to choose who is in charge of your medical needs. Don’t forget to take your FreeRxPlus card along so you can save on any prescriptions that the doctor advises you need. Visit www.freerxplus.com to request your free card today!