How To Choose a Doctor

From the Summer 2011 StayHealthy publication

Your head is throbbing. Your throat is burning. The thermometer is showing triple digits.

Time to call the doctor, right?

Yet for 60 million Americans, seeing "the doctor" is complicated by the fact that they don't have a doctor. About one in six Americans lacks a "usual" doctor, which means that even a minor illness or injury may land them in the Emergency Department, according to a report from the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality.

While Porter's Emergency Department is prepared for all emergencies, there are good reasons to have a "family" doctor, according to Terry Wuletich, Director of Emergency Services at Porter. "Certainly there are benefits to regularly seeing a doctor who knows your personal medical history and to have ongoing preventive visits with your own doc," said Wuletich. She went on to say, the best time to find a doctor is when you don't need one. "Having your own 'family doctor' keeps you healthier overall and puts you more at ease when you do need one."

Here are some basic guidelines to help you make informed choices when choosing a doctor

What kind of doctor do you need?

Many families want a doctor who can treat the entire family and become familiar with the family as a group, typically a family practitioner or internal medicine doctor.

Family practitioners complete a two-year residency in family practice, which includes intensive training in general surgery, internal medicine, obstetrics/gynecology, and pediatrics, among other fields. A family practitioner is qualified to handle most aspects of medical care, such as uncomplicated pregnancies, immunizations, and routine physicals, as well as diagnosing and treating most illness. A family practitioner can also guide you to the right specialist, when needed, and help coordinate this specialized care.

Internal Medicine doctors (also called "internists") have three or more years of intensive training in how to diagnose and treat non-surgical medical problems in teens and adults through old age. They can treat many problems, simple or complex; in fact, other doctors often refer their patients to internists to solve puzzling medical problems. Internists are also very good at treating multiple medical problems that may come up at the same time and are often tied together.

How to Find the Right Doctor?

Porter offers and easy-to-use physician referral service, which allows you to select a doctor based on your criteria. You may search based on specialty, city, gender or name. To begin, simply visit porterhealth.com and click on "Find a Physician" or call 1.800.541.1861.

15 Questions to Help You Choose a Doctor

1. Will the doctor treat all family members?
   
2. Is the doctor nearby and easy to access?
   
3. Does the doctor have office hours that are convenient for your family, especially for those who work or attend school?
4. Is the doctor covered by your insurance plan?
   
5. Does the doctor have staff privileges at a nearby accredited hospital?
   
6. Does the doctor encourage preventive medicine, such as routine check-ups, immunizations and follow-up tests?
   
7. Does the doctor perform surgery? If so, what kind?
   
8. What are the fees for the various services?
   
9. Is the doctor certified by the American Board of Family Practice (or a specialty board of another area)?
   
10. Where are routine x-rays and laboratory studies performed? Can these be done in-office or will you have to go to an outside laboratory?
    
11. How long must you wait for an appointment after you call? Can you be seen on the same day if you have an urgent need?
    
12. Is the office staff friendly and courteous?
    
13. If the doctor works in a group, are you comfortable with being seen by one of the practice partners?
    
14. Who covers for the physician when he/she is away?
    
15. Who should you call if you have a problem after hours?