Learn About Doctors You Are Considering
Once you have narrowed your list to two or three doctors, call their offices.
The office staff is a good source of information about the doctor’ s education and qualifications, office policies, and payment procedures.
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Your questions for the office manager may include:
* Is the doctor taking new patients?
* Does the doctor accept my insurance? Medicare or Medicaid?
* What days / hours does the doctor see patients in the office?
* Will I always see my doctor, or will I see other health care providers, such as a nurse practitioner( NP) or physician assistant( PA)?
* Are there times set aside for the doctor to take phone calls? Is there a charge for this service? Does the doctor use telehealth( video or phone) visits with patients?
* Can I email questions to the doctor? * Does the doctor ever make house calls?
* How far in advance do I have to make appointments? What is the appointment cancellation policy?
* What happens if I need care after hours or on weekends?
* How do I reach the doctor in an emergency?
It is also important to know if the doctor’ s office offers different types of appointments, such as:
* Lab visits for bloodwork
* Visits for vaccines for travel, seasonal flu, pneumonia, COVID-19, or shingles
* Telehealth visits with the doctor, NP, or PA
What Is Telehealth?
Telehealth is a service that uses video calling and other technologies to help you see your doctor or other health care provider from home instead of at a medical facility. Telehealth may be particularly helpful if you have limited mobility or live in a rural area. Talking with your doctor online or through a phone, tablet, or other electronic device can often be easier, faster, and less expensive than making a trip to an office.
Telehealth can also help support family caregivers who are taking care of their loved ones either close by or from afar. If a caregiver needs to ask the doctor a question, he or she can do so through an online health portal rather than waiting for and traveling to an in-person appointment. For more information about telehealth, see Telehealth: What Is It, How To Prepare, Is It Covered?( www. nia. nih. gov / health / telehealth-what-ithow-prepare-it-covered)
Pay attention to how the office staff responds to your questions— you will need to communicate with them often!
Now you are ready to make an appointment to meet and talk with a doctor you are considering. He or she is likely to charge you for this type of visit. After the appointment, ask yourself if this doctor is a person with whom you could work well. Your first meeting is a good time to talk with the doctor and the office staff about some communication basics.
When you see the doctor and office staff, introduce yourself and let them know by what name you prefer to be called. For example:
Hello, my name is Mrs. Martinez.
Good morning, my name is Bob Smith. Please call me Bob. or
4 Choosing a Doctor You Can Talk With