And one of the commentators on this blog recently said I reminded them of a young Kurt Russell. Of course, everyone is entitled to their opinion, but this is not what I mean about a star doctor. In response to one of my earlier blogs, a reader asked if I would comment on how to choose the best doctor. In other words, how can you find a star doctor of your own?
There are a handful of sites cropping up on the Internet that enable users to rate or leave personal comments about their physician experiences. In the future, these will be a wonderful resource; however, in their infancy, you are most likely not going to find a doctor in your area or in the specialty you seek.
For most of us, the doctors we have to choose from are going to be the ones that participate in our managed care plan. That immediately narrows the field of candidates for you. Start with that list.
Before you go any further, sit down and think about what it is you really want from a physician. Based on my experience with patients, attributes commonly sought are:
- The best in his/her field; a prominent researcher
- Someone whose office is close to home or work and has convenient office hours
- Someone who has a nice bedside manner
- Someone who responds promptly to phone messages or emails
Some of these attributes may not mean anything to you at all. Some of you may want to find a physician who has all of them. Online Cialis
If you are trying to find the most-respected person in a field, first, you should avoid any source that claims to list “the best doctors”. These are little more than marketing ploys, and spots on the list go to those whose home institutions pay the most in advertising fees.
If you have a starting place - for example, your HMO’s list of participating oncologists - perform an Internet search and see which doctor comes up the most frequently as having written a research paper or being quoted in the press. If the doctor is affiliated with an academic medical institution, you can search that institution’s webpage. Often they will post a list of the doctor’s published work and awards.
If response time is important for you, the best thing to do is to place a call to the office. Be honest. Tell the receptionist that you are deciding whether or not to make an appointment with this particular doctor and would like to talk to him/her first. If they call you back, then you’ll know they are interested in your business and in pleasing you. Most doctors are realizing that patients are customers, too. If not, you should cross them off of your list.
The next best thing to actually sitting down and talking to the doctor (and what the Internet sites are counting on) is a good testimonial. But before you take someone’s word on a potential doctor’s bedside skills, make certain that you and the other person expect and want the same thing out of a doctor.
You also want to find out how many visits they had to formulate this opinion. Like anyone else, a doctor can have good days and bad days, so make sure that a person’s impression is not founded on a one-time encounter.
Lastly, don’t be afraid to try something new. Many people hesitate to see a doctor who is just out of training. They think he/she is too green and inexperienced. This is not the case.
Studies have shown that younger physicians are often more current on latest treatment options than their more seasoned counterparts. These younger physicians are also often trying to build a practice and will have more time and more interest in you as both a patient and a customer.
Most of all, keep in mind that you can create your own star physician. Tell your chosen doctor what you need in a doctor-physician relationship. More times than not, you get what you ask for.
