Denton County Living Well Magazine September/October 2018 | Page 29
Consumer Reports on health offers some tips on finding a go-to doctor
that can best serve your needs. Here’s what they recommend:
• Check your insurance to see which doctors are
in your network
• Check the ratings of your local hospitals,
then confirm that your preferred doctor has
admitting
privileges there.
• Particularly for specialists, look for doctors who
are board certified in your area of concern.
• Look for malpractice claims or disciplinary
actions. More than one or two may not be a big
deal, but multiple claims and actions should raise
a red flag.
• Meet in person. There’s a lot to be said for
personal compatibility. Schedule a consultation
to be sure the doctor is attentive to your needs,
answers questions adequately, and shares your
philosophy as it applies to treatment options.
• Look beyond just the physician. Find out how
long it will take to get in for an appointment. Ob-
serve the office staff and environment. Factor in
technology issues such as online patient portals
that give you access to your information, or elec-
tronic health records that enable doctors to share
info and monitor your prescriptions, for example.
The United States healthcare system may be imper-
fect, but innovations in research, patient ownership in
their own care, and emerging technologies continue
to ensure that we remain at the forefront of keeping
our communities healthy, and providing the best pos-
sible treatment when illness or injury strikes.
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