September, 2013 - Riverside Sheriffs' Association

Benefits Corner
How To Choose The
Right Doctor For You
Linda Gartley
Benefits Manager
How did you select your primary
care physician? Did you seek
recommendations from family or
friends? Did you choose the office nearest
to where you live or work? Choosing a
doctor is one of the most important things
you will do in your life. You should be
able to trust this person for his or her
expertise, advice and to administer treatment
that may save your life. You want
to be sure the doctor has the training and
background to treat your health conditions.
Whether you use your primary care
physician rarely or often, it’s important to
find a doctor you like and trust.
When choosing a doctor, you’ll need
to ask a lot of questions, but not all
should be directed to the prospective doctor. You’ll want to ask
yourself several questions before you even pick up the phone
to call a doctor. One question you may want to ask yourself is
if your doctor’s age is a factor. Some research sites suggest that
patients tend to prefer the bedside manner of older doctors.
A physician with many years of experience may also have
better clinical judgment, which could mean improved ability
to diagnose and manage complex health problems. Studies
have shown that if your priority is to choose a doctor familiar
with current evidenced-based standards of care, you may
want to opt for a younger physician. On the other hand, if you
have multiple, complex health problems, or put a premium
on bedside manner, you may lean toward an older physician.
Remember, you can always research the doctor’s credentials
and history, as well.
Male or female doctor? Some surveys show that women
prefer women doctors and men prefer men doctors, thinking
that the doctor knows more about what they are experiencing.
Others say they don’t care if they see a man or woman doctor as
long as they are caring, skilled and professional.
Other questions you might want to ask are how long
you will have to wait for an appointment. Some offices have
“open access” scheduling, in which doctors leave part of each
day’s schedule un-booked so they can offer some same-day
appointments. Another question might be do they keep paper
or electronic medical records. Computer based record-keeping
is considered a major step toward improving the quality and
efficiency of medical care.
Does the doctor take questions by e-mail? Less than 10%
of patients communicate with their doctors by e-mail. Making
contact with your doctor by e-mail conversations is great for
Choosing a doctor
is one of the most
important things you
will do in your life.
non-emergency matters, problems or advice about a chronic
illness, an appointment, test results, clarification of some item
that came up during an office visit, an overlooked question, a
medication side effect, or any question requiring only a yes or no
answer. It’s a good direct link to your doctor, without the time
it takes to do a telephone conversation or make a repeat trip to
the doctor’s office.
A good primary care provider should talk to you about preventive
measures, like quitting smoking, eating a balanced diet,
maintaining an active lifestyle, encourage
you to ask questions and help make decisions
about your care. He/She should listen
to you and treat you with respect, explain
things clearly and spend enough time with
you during your appointment for you not to
feel rushed.
Lastly, be sure to verify that the physician
you would like to see is in your insurance
network.
Issue 9, 2013
Page 9 • All Points Bulletin