How do you chose a doctor?

[donnap99]

In January I am changing doctors (internist/general practitioner).  I'm just not happy with mine, and have set January as the time I will switch.  Asking around has gotten me no where - for various reasons I'm going to have to go at this rather blindly and looking at a list of providers.  

I've been playing with the idea of faxing the various offices some questions.  See them below and tell me what you think, or if it's a totally bad idea.  Thanks!

Ø   Are you open evenings or weekends?
Ø   What is the make-up of the practice?
--     o   MDs
--     o   Nurse Practitioners
--     o   MAs / RNs / LPNs
Ø   Where did you get your medical degree?
Ø   Do you have voice mail after hours for non-urgent matters?
Ø   Do you have e-mail?
Ø   If my child has been diagnosed with strep throat, and I begin to have a sore throat, will you need me to come in for a strep test, or will you call in a prescription for antibiotics without seeing me?
Ø   How long a wait is it to get an appointment for a physical?
Ø   How likely am I to be seen on the same day if I am sick?  Do you allow time each day in the schedule for sick visits?

P.S.  Is there any way to make this window on the Make a New Post page any larger?  And what happened to our Construction Zone to make suggestions?



DonnaP99

[jewels6567]

Donna -

Definitely ask around with officemates and friends.  The best way to find a doctor is through recommendations. Other than that I've found that it's trial and error.  I just recently switched primary doctors as well because my old one didn't want to take the time to help with a problem and every time I went in (whether it was a scheduled appt or last minute) I ended up waiting over 45 minutes to see someone.  

The biggest thing for me when I was looking for a new doctor was weekend/evening hours and that cut out quite a bit of my choices unfortunately.  I absolutely love my new doctor though.

Good luck!

Julie

[donnap99]

I thought I was posting this in Cafe Admin...  can someone move it?  Sorry!



DonnaP99

[mlm668]

Donna,

Your questions sound entirely reasonable to me.  As a working mother, your time is very valuable and you don't have it to waste hours sitting in doctor's office with a sick child.  Yes, employers have to give us the time to take care of these matters and no matter how understanding they are, they still prefer us to be at work between 8 & 5.

Another question I have never thought of until our Controller brought it up once was to ask where the Dr. placed in his graduating class.  Makes sense to me - I don't want someone who barely passed to treat me.

Michelle

[donnap99]

That is a good question (place in graduating class) -thanks.  But I'm afraid that a question like that is too personal.  Think they'll actually answer it?  Or because of that question totally not answer the questions at all?


DonnaP99

[execsec]

Always remember that 50% of the doctors graduated at the top of their class and 50% at the bottom! Of course it matters what half they are in but they don't have to tell you that.  Too bad the degree on the wall doesn't say.....

[whitesatin]

My cousin's son is a doctor.  He asked her, "What do you call a doctor with a 2.0 grade point average?"  My cousin said, "I don't know, what?"  He said, "Doctor".  LOL

I know everyone has probably heard that before, but I thought it was funny.

WhiteSatin

[mcbethers]

Ask what style of diagnosing the doctor uses.  Does the doctor treat according to stated signs and symptoms, or checks to make sure that there isn't some underlying cause?

Mine is the latter.  We both may know it's secondary infection from cold, but he'll take the extra step to rule out bronchitis or pneumonia.

[Katie G]

Donna,
You might check and see if there are any "teaching" or university-linked hospitals in your area and check their websites.  Sometimes they have physician referral services on there.  Might work in conjunction with asking for recommendations.  I picked my doctor because my MIL was a patient and was very happy with her AND she was affiliated with a well-known hospital with an excellent reputation.  (Thank goodness she was in my health-plan's "book"!)
Good luck
Did

[ozbound]

While we're on this subject, I'd like an opinion from the women. I haven't really been happy with my GP either--he's a really nice guy but sometimes he seems rather clueless as to the latest in medications, etc. (i.e., I'll ask him about stuff I've seen in the news and he's never heard of it). Also, he tends to write a lot of things off as "stress" and while that may very well be the case it sometimes leaves me wondering as I've had things come up when  I'm not under any more stress than usual. My sister thinks it would be better if I had a female doctor because they tend to be more attentive to women's health issues. What do you think?

[donnap99]

Oz--

I've wondered the same thing - so when my gyn dropped of the list last year (after having been with him for almost 20 years and 3 babies), I chose a female doctor.  I saw her twice and have no desire to see her again.  She had an attitude like because she was female, she knew everything - and wasn't empathetic.

I dunno...  maybe I'm just the type who doesn't do the usual female-to-female thing well.  I've had one female boss, and that was a disaster.



DonnaP99

Edited by donnap99 on 08/11/01 05:35 PM.

[mathwhizchick]

I haven't had very good luck with women doctors.  I've found they have had a bit of a chip on their shoulder.  In my area, they are also IMPOSSIBLE to get an appointment with (6-8 month lead time).

I have a male OB-GYN for the past several years, and I think he's GREAT!!

[radaro]

I have a woman ob/gyn.  I used to have a male ob/gyn.  The male was condescending and used to tell me things were "a woman's problem".  I couldn't be more happy with my current doctor.

I don't chalk it up to the male/female thing but instead to good/bad doctor.  A good doctor will take the time to listen to YOU and treat YOU not just your symptoms, no matter what the sex of the doctor is.

[mathwhizchick]

my thoughts exactly.

[ozbound]

You're probably right--depends on the doctor.
I had an interesting observation when I was out of work and on the state health care system a few years ago... My regular doctor worked in a nice downtown clinic with a fountain courtyard, plushy chairs and a fishtank in the office. The state clinic looked like something you'd expect to see in a 3rd-world country, with run-down, second-hand furniture. Yet I always felt like I was being "processed" when I saw my old doctor--Hi, how are ya, here's a prescription--Next!  Whereas the doctor in the state clinic really acted like she cared about her patients and didn't seem rushed. It was about the patients, not the money.

Go figure!