Choosing a Doctor...
 

I just relocated and need to locate a doctor in my new area to get a physical between now and September. So my question is: How do you choose a doctor? (I don't have any friends or family in the area so I can't ask for recommendations that way...) Ladies, does your primary do your yearly gyno check up too? Or do you have seperate doctors?


(And I searched for a thread about this, but didn't find anything so please don't stone me if it's already been discussed! :p)

Before I moved to this area, I had a GP and a gyno. When I moved, I got very lucky with a GP and have her do the yearly exam when I have my annual physical.

How did I find her? I had fractured my tibia and went to a Orthopedic Surgeon. He wanted to do a bone density test on me, but it required a script from a GP. The Ortho knew I was athletic and recommended a female doctor about my age who had similar interests.

She has been wonderful! One of the things that has been ironic is that we go through similar things at the same time (ummm, sports injuries). There were times she asked my experience with a certain form of therapy or how it felt on my tendonitis when doing push-ups. She has also been proactive at recommending blood tests when she feels I've been taking too many anti-inflamatory drugs from a recent surgery. I also like that she starts her office hours at 7:00 a.m., so I can get there before work.

I'm fortunate that this health center is part of one of the top 5 hospitals in the US, so I was able to skip the checking of her credentials. My recommendation is to shop around and figure out who you think you can relate to. Just because a doctor is great for your friend or neighbor, doesn't mean you will get the care you need or deserve

My health care provider publishes a booklet listing all of their physicians, their locations, education, specialties, and often their philosophy, hobbies and a photo. This information is also on the health provider's website.

When I was searching for a new doctor, I flipped through the pages for GPs in my area. A lot of them I could eliminate because they weren't accepting any new patients. Of the ones that were left, I just sort of read about them and decided to pick one that sounded ok.

When I went in for my physical and meet 'n' greet, I found that my physician was really nice and we got along well. If I didn't care for her too much after a couple of visits, I would find a new GP; but, so far I like her just fine.

My GP can also do the yearly gyno check; but, I elected to visit an actual gyno instead. I got one randomly assigned to me because he was the only one available. I did not care for him at all. He wasn't especially friendly and I didn't feel I had any rapport with him (which kind of helps when it's your gyno). So, I won't be going back to him.

If your provider has a physician finder service, website or booklet; that may help you narrow the options down a bit.

.....Kelly :)

I currently go to the same primary as the other members of the family, but we found her a few years ago because our insurance changed and we had to find a new doctor. We knew we wanted a doctor that was close and affiliated with our hospital of preference. There just happens to me a huge outpatient center with tons of doctors office a few miles away that if affiliated with said hospital. We found our doctor there, we were some of her first patients straight out of medical school! I have my gyno checks done with my annual checkups with my primary.

I found that finding the right hospital and doctor go hand in hand. It has really worked out well when I had to have surgery and was referred to doctors within the same "network".

Ask your former doctor for a referral in your new town.

Research has shown doctors tend to pay more attention to patients of their same sex, even subconsciously (they can empathize with patients of their own sex), so I always choose female doctors.

Do you have a local alumnae association for your GLO who you could get in contact with? Your HQ should also be able to provide you a list of local alum in the area. That would be a good place to start...even in the friend department.

I got this website off of the Today show (or something like that) a couple of years ago. www.castleconnelly.com It shows a history of doctor disciplinary actions. It will at least give you a heads up where not to go.

I have seperate doctors.

Good luck!