5 Tips for Choosing a Good Doctor

If you’re looking for a new doctor, here are a few things to consider before you select one.

Are you in the market for a new doctor? Have you recently moved and need to find new healthcare professionals to see? Finding a new doctor can be a challenge, but by putting in some time to find the right doctor for you, you’ll be well on your way towards staying on top of your healthcare needs.

If you’re not sure what the best way to go about finding a good doctor is, here are some tips that can help:

  1. Determine what type of doctor(s) you need. If you have recently relocated, you’ll likely need to start by finding a new primary care physician. If you are experiencing a particular health concern, you may be in the market for a specialist or a series of specialists who deal with the condition you have.
  2. Check your insurance coverage. Your choice of doctors will likely be affected by whether they are in-or out-of-network for your health insurance plan. You can choose to see a doctor who is not covered by your health plan, but your out-of-pocket expenses will likely be higher. If you have recently moved or have changed jobs and are choosing a new health plan, you may want to look into the doctors each plan covers before deciding about insurance coverage.
  3. Ask for recommendations. You can read all the reviews in the world online, but nothing beats asking people you know about their own personal experiences with doctors. Find people who you think would feel the same as you in certain situations or who may have similar healthcare concerns. Once you get personal recommendations, you can then do your own research but it’s a great place to start.
  4. Do your own research. Whether you’re starting from scratch or have received recommendations from friends, family or co-workers, take some time to do your own research about any doctor you are considering. You can find out if the doctor is in good standing through your state’s licensing agency. You can also read reviews online.
  5. Make a new patient appointment. Schedule an appointment to meet the doctor at your earliest convenience. This is best done before you need the doctor to handle an acute problem. During your initial visit, show up with a prepared list of any questions you may have so you won’t forget to discuss anything of importance to you.

Finding a doctor you like and trust may take a bit of trial and error. There’s no reason to feel like you’re stuck with a doctor if they are not a good fit for you. Even if you’ve been seeing a doctor for a length of time, nothing is stopping you from finding another doctor who better suits your needs. Just make sure to ask for any medical records to be transferred to a new doctor so they will have access to your full medical history.

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Date Last Reviewed: January 18, 2024

Editorial Review: Andrea Cohen, Editorial Director, Baldwin Publishing, Inc. Contact Editor

Medical Review: Perry Pitkow, MD

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