Choosing a Doctor Is Not an Exact Science

By Beverly Forte, Ph.D. and Scott Conard, M.D.

One of the leading causes of chronically ill health is the inaction created by the belief that your insurance company or your doctor or someone other that you is responsible for your health care. You have choices. One of the most important is selecting a doctor (or team of doctors) to be your partner on your health journey. Remember that you are looking for a healer – a doctor with technical and human qualities. Choosing a doctor is not an exact science. Finding that special health partner requires investing time and energy and a willingness to trust your feelings as much as you trust their credentials to make your decision.

What do you expect from a doctor?

You want a doctor who:

• Treats you with respect, like a person not an illness (e.g., a man with diabetes, not a diabetic)
• Is easily reached by phone and promptly returns phone messages.
• Listens attentively and allows time for your questions. Never causes you to feel rushed.
• Shows caring behavior.
• Shows respect for your time, but doesn’t sacrifice quality of treatment for quick exams.
• Aggressively uses preventive medicine to keep you healthy.
• Provides comprehensive treatment by referring to other doctors with specialties and alternative treatments.
• Keeps you informed on latest research and treatments for your condition.
• Has staff members who are helpful and courteous and who return phone calls in a timely manner.

Where do you look?

• The best source of finding this partner is word of mouth. Ask friends, family, and other doctors or health care professionals you trust for a referral. Ask about the doctor’s credentials and why they are happy with that doctor’s services. Compare this to your list of needs.
• After narrowing the search, check out their credentials. Compare to a list of doctors and their specialties or call your county or State Board of Medical Quality Assurance.

What do you expect from yourself?

• Like any relationship, communicate your feelings and needs.
• To every visit, bring a page listing you name, date of birth, current medications, allergies, surgeries, illnesses.
• Make a list of what you want to discuss.
  • List all questions, concerns, and changes in your condition since your last visit, even if they seem unrelated to today’s appointment.
  • Tell your doctor about any new symptoms even if they seem unrelated.
  • Prioritize your list so that you talk about the most important things first.
• Ask about all your treatment options. Having choices even if you choose to do nothing has therapeutic effects.
• Follow instructions for all prescribed medications. Do not start or stop medications until talking again with your doctor.
• Be open minded about alternative practitioners and treatments. Choose a practicioner congruent with you.
• Add doctors with specialties to your team as they are needed.
• If you are not happy with your doctor’s services, provide feedback and try to work it out, like all relationships. Otherwise, you may need to change doctors. Other times you may add a doctor or change doctors is when you

Remember that you are not an interruption to your doctor’s day. You’re the reason the doctor is there.