Selecting a New Doctor

Over the years, I have had to find another doctor for various reasons - chaning health coverage, moving, or a doctor retired. Each time, it's a perplexing process. Who do you ask to help? A friend, a relative, the former doctor's office for a referral, or a co-worker. Then there is what shall be the sex of the physician. For me, I want a female as well as for my daughters. Once that's decided, I certainly wish to have a doctor with a good reputation and competent office staff! Knowing these things isn't easy nor what to expect when being seen for the first time. Does your first time exam live up to your expectations? Did is disappoint or surprise you? Most of all, did you elect to return for follow up care in the future.

I've changed doctors many times. Most often it's because of changes in insurance plans. Other times I try a doctor once (or maybe twice) and decide that we just don't see eye-to-eye and I don't like them and look elsewhere.

Where to look? Since most of my changes are due to insurance, I start by looking at the list of doctors available in my insurance plan. From there, I'll go search the Internet for reviews, doctor web sites, proximity to my house and work, etc. What I have never done is ask friends and co-workers for opinions -- at least not for a primary care doctor. I just don't feel comfortable discussing things like your choice of doctor with people that I know -- I just don't feel that it's their business -- and asking them which doctor(s) they use is none of mine. If I'm looking for a new primary care doctor, I'll usually look for a female -- that's just my personal preference. The first exam usually tells me a lot about the doctor -- how their office works (or doesn't), what kind of office procedures they use, how attentive the doctor is, how easy they are to talk with, and most importantly how thorough the initial exam is. Based on all of that and my initial comfort level with the doctor (and their office), I'll make the decision to come back or look elsewhere.

I use Internet sites like healthgrades.com to search geographically. I take into account many factors. Unfortunately, the main factor has to be insurance. After that I look at (in no particular order) training, gender, disciplinary history and hospital affiliation. I also look at patient ratings, especially trust.

When I find a doctor (and office) that I like, I stay loyal. If they piss me off, I fire them. Unfortunately, I've had to fire doctors that I like because I can't deal with the office. Lots of factors you can't really evaluate until you do business with them.

I was fortunate. I had the same primary care doctor for 27 years. I was one of his first patients when he went out on his own and we had a very good working relationship. Oh, and many of the docs in the city used him as their primary care physician.

Then, I moved and the insurance company wouldn't let me go back to him. When the insurance company sent me a list of the primary care docs in their network, I found that there were only two in the whole county. I chose one and I chose wrong (but the other one was not in a convenient location). I had to continually remind him that one of my meds required quarterly blood work. Fortunately, I had no serious medical issues.

Then, I moved again. One of my new friends (a cardiology nurse) recommended a doc to me. I have seen him for over five years and he is on top of everything, just like my long-time doc. A good recommendation is worth alot in my book, because its getting harder to find a good doc who will take his time with you..

Covered well below. Cases in point? I had been seeing a specialist who straddles into general because he's internal medicine. But the general angle was weak given appointment time constraints. Since I was entitled to a HCP, when I saw a local banner about a family health practice, I looked it up online. They had added a male NP just out of school. So I joined up. Three months later, a 2015 appointment already scheduled, the practice closed. So I went over to two hospital sites, scrolled down and found two young, male providers. The first one I called about, another NP, didn't accept patients over 50. The other practice, which I had gotten onto a list for, actually, before finding that banner and practice, which was shut off until maternity leaves ended, had a straight out of school male doctor. So I got the paperwork, sent it back, called after a month to see what was going on. While I couldn't request him, the practice had assigned me to him, the current delay being getting records from one internal hospital practice to the other. He may still not be the answer because his is a family practice, not internal medicine, but the closest internal medicine is far away.

I haven't figured out how to do this either.............other than the things mentioned (insurance, friends, internet..). It would be nice if a person could sort of interview them, but given the value of their time and mine, that's not real likely to happen. I think a good friends referral is probably the best bet to start with, if you're so lucky. I've been trying different ones annually for my required physical, in the hope of finding one that I feel comfortable with. So far I haven't really needed a doctor, but if or when I do, I hope by then I have found a good match.

Unfortunately, I'm in need of multiple doctors regularly. Also unfortunately, the insurance industry doesn't get the need for me to be comfortable with my doctor.

If I research and choose Dr. Smith, a little finger - ologist, and don't like him/her or their office, I can't go to a different doc (unless I pay out-of-pocket) until the next approved time period OR if I have a new problem. Potentially, I could go without adequate care for months while I 'doctor shop.'

When I had to let my family doctor go cause she was not working out for me anymore I got little stressed in having to pick a new family doctor for myself. I had a good friend from a support group tell me that I needed to leave the family doctor practice and go to an interest as they were the best doctors for someone who has asthma. well there was none around here so I was looking for a new family doctor and my friend was helping me I found a doctor that I was interested in and I went to all the review sites and looked him up and saw that he had great reviews and then my friend found me a doctor to look up as well. so in finding a new doctor I had my friend helping me and also had the reviews to go by and because of the reviews I found the best doctor that I ever had/

I just searched for a doctors within my insurance network on my insurance provider's website. I narrowed it down to internal medicine and chose a preferred area. I wanted somebody semi-younger so I wouldn't have to change again so soon if he/she retires. I checked out some photos and profile info of some doctors and Googled a few. I looked at reviews and made a call based on the profile info.

I have had 3 doctors since childhood. Like most Americans I am in a managed care plan. When I need a referral I consult with my doctor even though my plan states I can choose any in network specialist without prior authorization. I still want my doctor's input regardless.

For me, the psychology has been to find a doctor i am most likely to WANT to go see, so i'll be more likely to make appointments & actually go, maybe looking forward to it on some level as i did my last skin exam. As opposed to "well i should schedule an appointment", and then procrastinate, procrastinate, procrastinate, procrastinate.

Procrastinate, procrastinate procrastinate.

So i use go to my health insurance's website, "find a doctor", then type of doctor (primary care, or whatever specialty i might need), and of course it'll list all the docs within a certain radius of my home zip code, and sometimes i put in my work zip code as well.

Now we're supposed to be motivating ourselves to more likely "want" to go, right, so we take the women's names, (my personal preferred gender when it comes to being exposed & touched). We have another window open for "advanced google image search" . Select a few docs from here because, once we start making calls, that's when we learn how "not updated" the website is. This one's not taking new patients (but the website said she was). This one moved her practice to Timbuk 2. This one no longer does this. This one's booked til next forever.

And then you find yourself left with the one that's actually available. and bang. You schedule that appointment.

Hopefully, it won't turn out to be like what's happening with my lady dermatologist, where you get about 2 good years before she transitions her schedule to no longer perform biannual skin screenings/evaluations, and she goes to pass you off onto 1 of either of 2 males......

I look for the best doctors in the field that I can find who are reasonably close to me (within 20 miles). Once I get a short list, I try to identify those with the best credentials and ratings. This usually gives me 2 or 3 names. All other factors being equal, I usually make my selection with a preference for younger, and female doctors.

When I say "younger", I mean I want them to be younger than me so they don't retire before I reach old age and really need a doctor...

Once I change insurance, that usually necessitates a new doctor...

When I was actively calling on Dr.s, especially family practice, I got a good idea of which ones were sharp, medically and which were friendly and easy to talk to. Now, I will ask Docs.

I don't trust going online or recommendations from the health insurance company. Instead I ask one of my existing practitioners for a recommendation. When we have so many doctors that we use including a family practitioner, OB/GYN, dermatologist, ENT, allergist, opthamologist, and orthopedic specialist somebody recommending someone else is never a problem. My husband also plays golf with a retired anesthesiologist who knows just about everyone. No, for me it is the personal reference that makes all the difference.

Just had my first visit to a new doc today. We sat down and gone over what my health issues or concerns are and he led me to the exam room. Weight me, check my lungs, heart, and stomach then have a nurse came in to do a EKG then sent me for some bloodwork and urine. That was it. Would that consider as a full physical exam?

@DannyBoyz Are you sure they just didn't step out for a moment and you thought it was over? All joking aside, if that's how it happened, in my opinion, you got seriously taken advantage of. I would call them and state how you feel about the matter and insist on returning for the other 2/3 without another co-pay. If they do not resolve it to your satisfaction I would (a) find a new provider who gives a damn, and (b) report the provider to your HMO, PPO, or coverage carrier. Geeze, I wouldn't even consider that a "partial" physical much less a full one!

Welcome to the new world of the "Well Visit" this is more common than not now.

@DannyBoyz... you just need to find yourself a good play doctor.

@DannyBoyz... you just need to find yourself a good play doctor.

I wish..

I wouldn't. How old are you? And what kind of doctor was this? General practitioner, internist or something else?

I wouldn't. How old are you? And what kind of doctor was this? General practitioner, internist or something else?

29. Internist

Def thinking about switching doc at this point. Feels like it was more of a 'follow up visit'

Hmm this sounds like a super quick check of some things but not a full physical by any means. How were you dressed?

Doesn't sound like much of a physical. I started with a new doctor last year and I got the full exam.

Doesn't sound like a full physical examination to me. Perhaps make an appointment and state that you want a complete head to toe exam.

Hmm this sounds like a super quick check of some things but not a full physical by any means. How were you dressed?

T-Shirt and jeans

T-Shirt and jeans

Was it a male internist? Did he have you take your shirt off or lift it up to listen to your chest? Did you lie on your back for abdominal exam?

Was it a male internist? Did he have you take your shirt off or lift it up to listen to your chest? Did you lie on your back for abdominal exam?

Yes, male internist. He had me take off my shirt and lie on my back for abdominal exam then have nurse came in for EKG. End of exam

Yes, male internist. He had me take off my shirt and lie on my back for abdominal exam then have nurse came in for EKG. End of exam

That was disappointing. I had an exam a few years ago that started with my shirt off. The doctor was also a male internist. He had me sit on the table for head and neck, heart, and lung exams. Then he had me lie back for the abdominal exam. He stepped away from the table and I thought he was finished. He had walked across the room and then turned back around and walked over to the exam table. He said "stand up here on the platform and drop your pants and shorts." There was a four-legged step stool next to the table to which he was pointing with his finger which had a finger cot on it. This was the first time I had ever seen a finger cot but it was pretty obvious what it was used for. I had to awkwardly unhook, unzip, and drop my dress slacks and briefs to expose the genitalia. The felt the testes and did the hernia, and then proceeded to have me bend over and he did my first rectal. I am just saying that the way the exam starts can belie the level of thoroughness. Too bad you did not have the same type of experience!