| Whether you are looking for a second opinion | | | | doctors on your list. Check on their training and |
| from a doctor, or simply shopping for a new | | | | board certification at the American Medical |
| general practitioner, it's important to find the right | | | | Association. At some online medical rating sites, |
| match for your needs. Today, with so many | | | | you can actually see a video clip of physicians to |
| choices, it's often difficult to know how to find a | | | | get a feel for their personality type; at other |
| doctor who will be a good match. Hopefully, these | | | | sites, they'll have a rating system from A to F to |
| four suggestions will get you on the right track. | | | | "grade" physicians. These sites are highly |
| | | | informative and should help you to narrow down |
| 1. Friends: Certainly, one of the best ways to find | | | | the selection process. |
| a new doctor is from your friends. Ask a wide | | | | 4. Other Doctors: While some doctors don't want |
| selection of friends for their recommendations. | | | | to offer up a recommendation for other doctors, |
| Keep in mind certain criteria that you have, and | | | | many physicians will be willing to do so. If you are |
| share the criteria with your friends. Are you willing | | | | looking for a specialist, for instance, ask your |
| to drive far, or do you want a doctor within a 5 | | | | general practitioner for recommendations. If it's a |
| mile radius of your home or work? Do you need | | | | general physician that you need, you might ask |
| someone who is gentle and warm, or someone | | | | your OB or your eye doctor for |
| who is more matter-of-fact? Do you want a small | | | | recommendations. Particularly in smaller towns, |
| practice, or are you more comfortable if many | | | | doctors really do know each other, and you can |
| doctors are available for consultations? | | | | offer get the best recommendations for |
| 2. Health Plan: Your health plan certainly has a list | | | | physicians from others in the field. If you don't |
| of recommended doctors. You can gather the list | | | | want to directly ask a doctor to recommend |
| and start researching these specific doctors | | | | another doctor, simply ask your doctor who he |
| yourself. Find out which hospitals they are | | | | or she uses as a general practitioner. If the |
| affiliated with and cross-check your list with a list | | | | doctor is good enough for them, chances are that |
| of top doctor's in your area. You can often find | | | | they could work for you as well! |
| lists of this sort published in the newspaper or in | | | | Keep in mind when looking for a doctor that you |
| local magazines. Visit a few doctors at their | | | | are the client. You have the right to look for the |
| offices and get a sense for the size of their | | | | right doctor for your needs. If a doctor makes |
| practices, the amount of time they spend with | | | | you feel less than important, or if one makes you |
| each patient and their overall view and outlook on | | | | feel silly for looking so carefully for the right |
| medicine. Schedule an appointment with two or | | | | doctor, cross them off of your list. Your health |
| three of the doctors at the top of your list and | | | | care maters and you have the right to do the |
| make your decision based on your face-to-face | | | | research that you need to do in order to feel |
| meetings. | | | | comfortable with your care. Make sure to start |
| 3. Online Doctor Reviews: The internet has a | | | | this search while you are healthy, and not in need |
| wealth of information for finding a family doctor, | | | | of major medical care. It is highly recommended |
| OB, or other specialist. At many of these medical | | | | that you search for a physician with a level head, |
| sites, you can review doctors' credentials and | | | | and while you aren't looking for immediate care. |
| histories, look at patient recommendations and | | | | This will help you to make a more thoughtful, |
| find out important information about each doctor. | | | | educated decision. |
| Make sure to check on the credentials of the | | | | |