Choosing A Doctor 101

How to choose a doctor is so simple and, at the same time, so hard that your success will depend on how much thoughtful energy you put into your inquiry and decision. First, it is essential to note the qualification of any physician that would make him/her desirable:
• Competence
• Personality
• Practice affiliations: other doctors and hospitals
• Availability

Notice the order in which I have listed a physician’s attributes. Believe it or not, when you need a doctor this is the hierarchical order of need in which you should search.

Competence is the most important priority since it is essential in diagnosing and treating your problem. You can evaluate competence in several ways. Your best resource is referral from another competent physician. Or, if you have a friend who had a good experience with a doctor, it is not quite as good as a doctor referral, but better than nothing. You may check state registration agencies for a history of complaints or lawsuits, though that can be very misleading. The worst place to inquire is a local hospital, a nurse or other medical worker, or the internet. They have no experience in evaluating patient outcomes with that doctor yet they affect an air of sophistication that is rarely justified.

Personality is the second most important quality in evaluating a possible relationship with a physician. I am friendly, honest to a fault, blunt to an extreme, and like to tell jokes. I am caring yet I do not coddle patients. Someone who wants lots of sympathy would not like to be my patient. Someone who wants my evaluation in a forthright manner, which may or may not be pleasing, might enjoy my care (remember Jack Nicholson’s response to Tom Cruise…) The only way to evaluate personality and perhaps competence is to interview the doctor. You must make an appointment, have a consultation, and judge for yourself. You may request before and after pictures, speak with previous patients, or even question the doctor’s staff. (The doctor’s staff usually reflects the doctor’s personality so evaluate them as well. However, nothing will substitute for a face-to-face interview.)

Practice affiliations are the new mantra of health care. The new reality is your doctor will not be available to you all or even much of the time. Accept it or complain – you will still have to live with it. When the doctor is unavailable the hospital may be your most important advocate. (Some years ago after undergoing serious surgery I bled my entire volume of blood. Exceptional care at the hospital where the surgery was performed saved my life.) Besides the hospital, doctor associates and paramedical personnel (especially nurse practitioners and physician assistants) will be there to support you. Interview them. Know them. Your life may depend upon it.
Availability is more than being in the office when you arrive. It involves supervising your care, communicating with you on the telephone or by e-mail, and keeping you informed of your case and its prognosis. A quick five-minute visit, poorly communicated, is not nearly as valuable as one minute of clear communication. Ask questions before you commit to a relationship and give the doctor the opportunity to help you.

Ultimately you are your own advocate. If you waste the opportunity to choose a doctor when things are going well, you may lose the opportunity later when time is of the essence.

--This post does not necessarily reflect the opinion of PriceDoc Talk or PriceDoc, Inc. To contact the editor, email editor (at) pricedoc (dot) com.

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