Are you planning to switch doctors soon? Not sure exactly what you should look for in a new primary care physician?
There are many reasons to switch to a new doctor, but if you decide to do so, you need to be sure that you choose carefully. Switching doctors can be a big change, and if you rush it, you may end up being unsatisfied with your decision.
Be sure that you ask the following 5 questions if you’re making a switch to a new doctor.
1. What Are Your Qualifications?
One of the main questions you’ll want to ask your new doctor is what credentials and experience they have.
You should find out everything you can about the doctor’s history and qualifications, such as where they went to medical school, how long they have been practicing, and what type of training they have. Be sure to find out if they have any specialties or extra training beyond their basic medical school education.
If any particular specialty is important to you, you should also be sure to find out whether they’re board-certified. Board certification will help prove that they have rigorous training and extensive knowledge about a specific area.
By considering the education and experience of a doctor, you’ll have a better chance of ensuring that they’re a great choice for your needs.
2. Will You Accept My Payment?
Before switching to a new primary care doctor, you’ll also want to find out about their payment options.
You should be sure to find out if the doctor is a preferred provider under your insurance plan. If you have Medicare coverage, you’ll want to find out if the doctor will accept it or not. This way, you’ll know that you’ll be getting their services for a reasonable price and that you’ll be able to keep getting the care you need.
Different doctor’s offices will have different policies, so you’ll want to find out all of the details about payment and insurance coverage before deciding to make the switch.
3. Which Hospitals and Clinics Do You Work With?
When you’re trying to find a primary care physician, it’s a good idea to find out what hospitals they’ll admit you to should you need surgery or special care of some kind.
You should make sure that the doctor will end up sending you to a hospital or clinic that has strong safety standards and that will provide quality care. Ensure that any clinics or hospitals that you’ll be sent to will have been evaluated thoroughly and that you can rely on them if you need their services.
On top of this, you should also make sure that any additional facilities you’ll go to will accept your insurance plan if you need to get any special care or treatment.
4. How Do You Communicate?
One of the top things that you’ll want to think about when choosing which doctor to switch to is how a doctor communicates. You’ll want to find a doctor who will communicate with your clearly and in a personable way. You should also find out if they’ll be readily available if you have questions or concerns.
You should consider a doctor’s communication style and find out whether it will align with your own or not. For example, some patients may prefer to have a doctor discuss things through with them thoroughly and list many different treatment options. Others prefer to be told clearly what to do and would prefer that the doctor choose the best course of action.
In addition to evaluating their communication style, it’s also important to find out how available a doctor will be. Some doctors will have an online patient portal in which you can communicate with them and ask questions. They may also offer other ways to get in touch.
Be sure to consider how easy it is to get in touch with a doctor when you need them and think carefully about their communication style when deciding which doctor you should switch to.
5. What Are Your Policies?
In addition to considering the factors above, you should also consider some of the practical aspects of choosing a new adult primary care physician. You should also find out everything you can about a doctor’s policies.
For example, when choosing a doctor you’ll want to think carefully about the location and ensure that you can access it easily. You should find out about parking options and whether there are ramps if you have a wheelchair or a walker.
In addition to this, you’ll want to find out which days a doctor will be available for visits or to take phone calls. It can also be helpful to find out how far in advance you’ll need to make an appointment and whether the doctor makes house calls. You should also find out what options the doctor offers for getting in touch during an emergency.
Be sure that you think about all of the practical concerns of visiting the new doctors and ensure that they’ll be available for you when you need professional care.
Making the Decision to Switch Doctors
If you want to switch doctors and be fully satisfied with your final choice, be sure that you consider all of the different factors. Make sure to ask the above questions before choosing your next doctor if you want to be sure that they’re the best fit for you.
Need more helpful advice for getting medical care? Read through our blog now to discover similar articles that can help.
