How do you choose a good family doctor?

[Bandit]

What about asking your podiatrist for a recomendation? He probably get referrals from lots of doctors in the area and might know a few good ones.

TS

that is my next action when I go to him in a week or two. only things is I tried that with my dentist who is awesome & his doctor was nothing like he is. in fact he was push you in & push you out kind of thing but my dentists great reputation still stood.

my dentist also directed me to a pain stabbing frankenstein for my broken jaw & when that was over he tried to get me to go back for some other stuff. I refused. he then gave me to a different doctor who turned out to be real good.

[Bandit]

I'm on my second female Doctor in 12 years. For some reason, I prefer the ladies.

IT was a lady who diagnosed my shingles immediately... after 7 men could not figure it out.

I dont have a problem with female doctors but the one I was going to by word of mouth also messed me up with insurance because she is not contracted so I got stuck with a whole bunch of bills. She is also very slow about getting back. It took her two months just to transfer records to my insurance & now I am waiting again for her to fill out a simple form to get my premium lowered.

I am still learning the ropes because I never had to pay out of pocket before for health insurance.

[arkienurse]

Bandit, do you know anyone that works at a hospital? That is how I found my doctor. We that work in the hospitals kinda pick up on which doctors are caring and concerned, and which are just in it to rush you in and out and put out their hands for payments. My doctor is awesome. She always comes in and acts like she has all the time in the world to spend with me, asks me if I am doing ok, concerned about anything other than why I am coming in for a visit. I found her because of listening to my surgery patients talk about her, and from listening to my coworkers who had gone to see her. I have totally dropped my gyn because of his rushy attitude when I would go in for a check, and for the way I have seen him act during surgery.
If a nurse gives someone a glowing recommendation, try them out. If you ask their opinion and they just say " oh, he is ok, but I use Dr. X for that problem, listen to them. I cannot just out and out say Dr so and so is a quack in my opinion, but I have been known to call my SIL and say would you please get a second opinion befor you let Dr. Z do your surgery.

Good luck on your search for the answer to your problems.

[Bandit]

Bandit, do you know anyone that works at a hospital? That is how I found my doctor. We that work in the hospitals kinda pick up on which doctors are caring and concerned, and which are just in it to rush you in and out and put out their hands for payments. My doctor is awesome. She always comes in and acts like she has all the time in the world to spend with me, asks me if I am doing ok, concerned about anything other than why I am coming in for a visit. I found her because of listening to my surgery patients talk about her, and from listening to my coworkers who had gone to see her. I have totally dropped my gyn because of his rushy attitude when I would go in for a check, and for the way I have seen him act during surgery.
If a nurse gives someone a glowing recommendation, try them out. If you ask their opinion and they just say " oh, he is ok, but I use Dr. X for that problem, listen to them. I cannot just out and out say Dr so and so is a quack in my opinion, but I have been known to call my SIL and say would you please get a second opinion befor you let Dr. Z do your surgery.

Good luck on your search for the answer to your problems.

I did not think of that before and I was in & out of the hospital a lot. I just wanted to go home & get better but never thought about future problems.

That is a very good way to find one since nurses work with the doctors & would know well what they are like. I am going thru the rush you in & out - give me your money crap now.

Also I am totally into the second opinion now because my insurance pays 100% if I get a second opinion for surgery.

I did meet several nurses over the summer when riding the bus to work (the bus stops right in front of my hospital) & they were so cool to talk to, but honestly I keep telling myself I wont need medical help for a long time, so I never thought of asking them. I was wrong

I don't actually know anyone who works in the field to ask.
That is good advice & thanks. I will keep it in mind as I go along.

[ourf8]

When we had our first little girl, we actually asked around quite a bit. We got a few names of our friends pediatricians, did online searched for complaints, and then INTERVIEWED them!! That's right, good old fashioned interviews. If they won't give you the time it takes to answer some questions before you make the commitment, what makes you think they will afterward? We picked an amazing doctor and it proved to be the best decision we ever made when complications arose after birth (everything went well with the help of a VERY caring pediatrician who helped us along the way). We have utilized this for our family doc as well and all is good!!

[lrprn]

Bandit, what kind of physician to look for depends on what is most important to you....great bedside manner and good diagnostic ability or exceptional ability to diagnose accurately but bedside manner can be not the best.

The best of both worlds is to find a doctor that has both strengths, but unfortunately those doctors are far too rare. So if you had to choose, which is most important to you?

Once you know which is most important to you, go to the hospital that you like to use in your community and sit in the cafeteria for an hour. Talk to the nurses and doctors that you see there. Tell them you are new to the community and looking for good _____ (fill in the blank with what you are looking for) doctors to interview. You'll be surprised how many excellent referrals you'll get this way

I've been a nurse for 35 years, and this is hands down the best method I've found to locate the strongest doctors in your community. I've done this myself when we've moved to a new community and chose every one of our family and specialist physicians this way. Good luck - hope you find some top-drawer physicians soon so you won't feel so frustrated.

[arkienurse]

Once you know which is most important to you, go to the hospital that you like to use in your community and sit in the cafeteria for an hour. Talk to the nurses and doctors that you see there. Tell them you are new to the community and looking for good _____ (fill in the blank with what you are looking for) doctors to interview. You'll be surprised how many excellent referrals you'll get this way

I've been a nurse for 35 years, and this is hands down the best method I've found to locate the strongest doctors in your community. I've done this myself when we've moved to a new community and chose every one of our family and specialist physicians this way. Good luck - hope you find some top-drawer physicians soon so you won't feel so frustrated.

Now that is an excellent idea.

[lillaimof2kids]

Talk to people!!! Go with your first impression!!! I finally found a great doctor to treat my migraines. He's my 4th Dr. since January. I knew after my 1st visit he was the Dr. for me. I even begged him to not make me go to my Neurologist anymore unless it's absolutely needed. He finally agreed to be my #1 go-to for my migraines.

Keep searching if you need to. Go with your gut. If they don't truely listen to you, move on. Do want you need to for yourself!

[Bandit]

Bandit, what kind of physician to look for depends on what is most important to you....great bedside manner and good diagnostic ability or exceptional ability to diagnose accurately but bedside manner can be not the best.

The best of both worlds is to find a doctor that has both strengths, but unfortunately those doctors are far too rare. So if you had to choose, which is most important to you?

Once you know which is most important to you, go to the hospital that you like to use in your community and sit in the cafeteria for an hour. Talk to the nurses and doctors that you see there. Tell them you are new to the community and looking for good _____ (fill in the blank with what you are looking for) doctors to interview. You'll be surprised how many excellent referrals you'll get this way

I've been a nurse for 35 years, and this is hands down the best method I've found to locate the strongest doctors in your community. I've done this myself when we've moved to a new community and chose every one of our family and specialist physicians this way. Good luck - hope you find some top-drawer physicians soon so you won't feel so frustrated.

Very well, I will try this method.

[Bandit]

Talk to people!!! Go with your first impression!!! I finally found a great doctor to treat my migraines. He's my 4th Dr. since January. I knew after my 1st visit he was the Dr. for me. I even begged him to not make me go to my Neurologist anymore unless it's absolutely needed. He finally agreed to be my #1 go-to for my migraines.

Keep searching if you need to. Go with your gut. If they don't truely listen to you, move on. Do want you need to for yourself!

Thanks for the experience & reply.

[BKOnce]

... and do not look for doctor names in yellow phone books either... that's where hungry docs are scavenging preys for foods lol... cuz good ones don't need to advertise themselves.

[Lacy]

Bandit looks like a few here have already offered you a lot of good advice. I just wanted to add this though. Have you thought of maybe asking your foot doctor that you seem to really like if he could recommend someone... Just a thought.

Best of luck in your search , I really hope you will find one soon !!

[Over our heads]

I wish I had good tips for ya, but I have just always been lucky.
My first ob-gyn, I went to him cause my bff did.
He rec'd our pediatrician, and we have had him for 11+ years now.
We love him so much we drive 1 hr each way to see him.
Me perinatologist, again, my ob sent me there for a consult, and we never looked back.
Chiropractor, DH picked the closest one to our apt (at the time), we now drive 30-45 each way to see her!
My current PCP, I admit, I picked the closest woman dr. to our home I could find, and I couldn't be happier.

Neurologists and Urologists are a totally dif story. They are driving me insane.

[Bandit]

... and do not look for doctor names in yellow phone books either... that's where hungry docs are scavenging preys for foods lol... cuz good ones don't need to advertise themselves.

yes, I have had to learn this the hard way.

[Bandit]

I wish I had good tips for ya, but I have just always been lucky.
My first ob-gyn, I went to him cause my bff did.
He rec'd our pediatrician, and we have had him for 11+ years now.
We love him so much we drive 1 hr each way to see him.
Me perinatologist, again, my ob sent me there for a consult, and we never looked back.
Chiropractor, DH picked the closest one to our apt (at the time), we now drive 30-45 each way to see her!
My current PCP, I admit, I picked the closest woman dr. to our home I could find, and I couldn't be happier.

Neurologists and Urologists are a totally dif story. They are driving me insane.

I have to find both of those that I bolded. I could stay with the one that emergency did surgery on me but I dont really care for him, though he did help me. I then I have to find a GI, whatever that means.

You know there are a few families who fly back & forth from other states to use my dentist after they moved away. I was reading some of the christmas cards they put up last year in the office. I know I have one the best dentists ever & he did a great job fixing all my teeth. Once you find a good one I don't blame you for driving an hour.