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How to Choose a Doctor

Putting Your Life in the Hands of Someone Qualified

Dec 17, 2008 Lisa Annunziato

What do you call a doctor who graduated at the bottom of his class? Answer: Doctor! Not all doctors know what they're doing; it's time to make sure yours does.

It is difficult for people to realize that just because a physician's credentials say "MD" that the person just might not be an expert. But, there are good and bad and so-so of every type of occupation. People are quick not to trust their mechanics, who only ensure the proper functioning of their car, but when it comes to the proper functioning of their bodies, they are willing to trust anyone who wears a lab coat and seems pleasant. Medicine is an art and a science, and there are so many things for physicians to know. That's why it is only logical to trust your most valuable possession (your health) to someone qualified.

Nice Doesn't Mean Good

Do you judge your physician based upon how kind or friendly he or she is? Many people think this is the most important thing to look for when shopping for a doctor. While it is important for your doctor to be trustworthy and listen to you thoroughly in order to make a proper diagnosis based upon the whole picture, it is not necessary for your doctor to be your buddy (unless your buddy is also a skilled diagnostician!). It is more effective to assess whether the physician you are seeing takes your concerns into account, thoroughly explains him or herself, and is accessible when you need to make an appointment or have a question answered.

Board Certification

Many people are surprised to learn that not all physicians keep up with their board certifications. This is important because a board certified physician is held to the highest standards of medicine, including the latest scientific knowledge on different disease states, understanding how new pharmaceutical products work, and keeping a patient-centered focus. Why would you choose a physician who last studied his or her craft when scientists thought the earth was flat? Your physician should be continually required to stay abreast of the latest and most effective advancements in medicine, so choosing someone who is board certified is of utmost importance when making sure your physician is qualified. There are many websites where you can check up on your physician's credentials.

Referrals

Many patients have serious health problems, but feel more comfortable seeing their primary care physician for treatment than to see a specialist. But, primary care physicians are not trained to deal with in-depth and complicated diseases like diabetes or heart disease, and your primary care physician should be referring his or her patients to a specialist they are comfortable with who can more adequately handle the problem. This seems like common sense, but often primary care physicians are reluctant to refer patients to specialists because they are afraid they will lose money if they refer a patient to a specialist for a chronic disease (since many of them have taken a large pay cut due to insurance issues lately). Make sure if you have a chronic illness that you are being referred to someone who can handle the problem.

Pills Versus Treatment

Pharmacologic treatments are often necessary for treatment. But, there is a major difference between a physician who uses drugs to treat a patient when all other treatments have been exhausted and the patient actually has been diagnosed with the disease, and a physician who issues drugs to make the patient feel better without treating the actual disease. A perfect example are patients who come in with the sniffles during the spring time. Often physicians feel comfortable treating these patients long-term with antihistamines, but only a small percentage of those patients actually have allergies! All medications have side effects, and taking unnecessary medications can cause further health problems. If a physician is going to treat a disease, he/she should first definitively diagnose that the patient has the disease or disorder and needs to be on the medication. Blood, urine or stool tests are great diagnostic tools. Does your physician actually diagnose before treating?

The copyright of the article How to Choose a Doctor in General Medicine is owned by Lisa Annunziato. Permission to republish How to Choose a Doctor in print or online must be granted by the author in writing.

Good doctors should communicate with you!