Is your doctor right for you?
Whenever you’re feeling under the weather, have a health question or need a wellness checkup, your primary care doctor should be the first place you visit. But when you have a doctor that isn’t meeting your needs, getting care might feel like a challenge. The fact is every doctor is different. And they all have different approaches to care.
These are some potential signs that you and your doctor may not be a good fit:
- You don’t feel like you’re on the same page.
- They recommend procedures that seem risky, expensive and/or unnecessary.
- You have trouble understanding them.
- They’re not respectful.
- You feel rushed during your appointments.
Meeting with other doctors can help you explore their approaches. But what makes a doctor the right one for you?
Communication is a big factor. You need to talk to your doctor for them to provide the proper care. If you don’t feel comfortable talking with them or your conversation isn’t productive, they won’t know what’s going on. Try to find someone whose communication style matches yours. Having a similar background can be a helpful characteristic in a doctor. That could include things like age, gender and native language.
Keep in mind the logistics of the doctor’s office itself. Is it close or easy to get to? How is the staff? Together, all of these things lead to very different experiences at each doctor.
There are a few ways to go about finding doctors. Talking with friends and family can be a good start. Just make sure the doctor is associated with a reputable establishment and in your network.
When you visit a Preferred provider, you usually receive more coverage for care and pay less out of pocket. Plus, you don’t have to do any paperwork. The National Doctor and Hospital Finder makes it easy to search our nationwide network and find Preferred providers near you.
Source:
https://www.heart.org/en/health-topics/consumer-healthcare/doctor-appointments-questions-to-ask-your-doctor/finding-the-right-doctor https://www.verywellhealth.com/choosing-the-right-doctor-for-your-medical-care-2615486
