How to choose the right doctor for you

Choosing a doctor

Doctors and other health professionals play an essential role in the treatment of PMS as they do other health conditions. Building a strong doctor-patient relationship is important step in managing your health. It is important that you feel comfortable with the person managing your health care so make your decision carefully.

 
Until a few years ago, people mostly based choosing a doctor on the personal recommendation of a trusted friend or relative. "Hello Sarah, do you know a good doctor, my knee has been hurting?" Charlie would answer, "Well Mary, my Aunt Agnes has gone to Dr. Smith on Elm Street for years".

Now selection is often made from a list of managed care network physicians with the decision based on the sound of the doctor's name or the location of the GP's surgery.

Here's How:

1.      Referrals / Recommendations:

Obtain a referral from your current or past doctor. Consider getting a personal recommendation from a trusted friend or family member.

2.     Credentials / Experience:

Enquire about the doctor's credentials and experience. It is useful to know the doctor's specialty and subspecialty. If you have multiple health problems is your doctor diversified enough to handle the entire situation? If your doctor specializes, does he have a good team of associate doctors? Can you be assured that there will be continuity of care even if other doctors are called upon?

 
NAPS recommends researching the following details when selecting a doctor:
·  Enquire about the doctors' office hours
·  Enquire about availability in an emergency, or a back-up physician
·  Ask about the average wait during appointments
·  Ask the number of patients booked per hour
·  Ask if you can choose the specialist you wish to see
·  Assess your general rapport with the doctor during an interview with him
 

More Considerations

Along with certification and credentials, it is equally important to find a doctor who you can trust and with whom you have a good rapport. A combination of trust and competency is paramount to a good patient/doctor relationship
 
Much information is available about doctors, both positive and negative, and it is our personal responsibility to retrieve it with our own well-being in mind.