| A doctors background check can be one of your | | | | from one site and within minutes. You can verify |
| best tools when searching for a doctor you can | | | | that the physician has valid credentials, or if they |
| rely on to give you the best care. You also want | | | | have any disciplinary actions or malpractice suits |
| to be assured that any surgeon who's about to | | | | against them. |
| 'cut you open' really is an expert in their field and | | | | 3. Convenience - Check the doctor's office hours |
| has had no disciplinary actions or malpractice suits | | | | to make sure that the hours fit your schedule. |
| brought against them. Conducting a doctors | | | | Also, you may want to ask if the doctor is |
| background check can reveal just that...and more. | | | | available by phone should you ever have any |
| Finding the right doctor can sometimes be rather | | | | questions or concerns about your condition or |
| hit or miss and often frustrating. Maybe you've | | | | medications. And what about prescription refills? If |
| recently moved and are searching for a new | | | | you should run out of a medication that you take |
| physician in your area. Or maybe you're not | | | | on a regular basis, find out if they will call in a refill |
| getting the attentive care you desire from your | | | | for you or if they absolutely require an office visit |
| current health care provider. Whatever the case | | | | every time. |
| may be, it's difficult to know where to go, who to | | | | 4. Affiliations - Inquire if the physician has any |
| trust, and whether or not you'll be comfortable | | | | financial interests in a hospital, diagnostic lab, or |
| with the relationship. You may feel that choosing a | | | | other facility. You wouldn't want a physician |
| good doctor is like throwing a dart at the phone | | | | ordering unnecessary tests or needless |
| book-you don't know who you're going to get. | | | | procedures for the possibility of added profit. |
| There are sites that provide physician | | | | Remember, they are running a business. |
| recommendations. You can't help but wonder, | | | | 5. So Many Questions, So Little Time? - Many |
| however, if they only recommend whoever is | | | | people are turned off simply by the way they are |
| paying their fee. Yet other sites allow doctors to | | | | treated by the office and nursing staff. Call ahead |
| post their own listings for free. Of course they | | | | with a list of general questions about the physician |
| wouldn't list anything negative about themselves. | | | | and their procedures, such as how many years |
| It can cost you a lot of wasted time and money | | | | they've been at their location or how long of a |
| if you end up going to one doctor, and then | | | | wait to expect during an office visit. You may be |
| another, and then another, searching for | | | | able to get a feel for their demeanor by how |
| satisfaction and each time having to begin all over | | | | explanatory, patient, pleasant, and caring they are |
| again. I've been there, done that. | | | | during the conversation. Do they constantly put |
| So how can you really find the doctor that's right | | | | you on hold? Are they very abrupt with their |
| for you? These are some of the | | | | answers? You want to be assured that the |
| recommendations: | | | | doctor would take the time to answer all of your |
| 1. Ask, Ask, Ask - Ask family members, friends, | | | | questions and not rush you out the door confused |
| co-workers, neighbors, even acquaintances, who | | | | or unsure of any instructions. |
| they would recommend. They may even know | | | | Taking the time to be as thorough as possible, |
| someone in the medical profession, such as a | | | | while investigating a new doctor, can save you a |
| nurse, who can provide you with names. | | | | lot of time, money, and aggravation in the long |
| 2. Conduct a Doctors Background Check - Once | | | | run. It is well worth your efforts. You can find a |
| you have some names of doctors, conduct a | | | | physician to give you the care you deserve and |
| background check on them. An online database | | | | rest assured that you're in good hands. |
| can provide you with all the information you need, | | | | |