There are many reasons why you might need to find and eventually, choose, a new doctor to attend to your health at some point. For seniors who will be moving to a new city, expect that along with your moving in comes the overwhelming task of transferring your health records as well. Of course, you will need someone to receive them right? However, we all know this is not something that is done in a haze.
One of the reasons why seniors are finding it hard to choose a doctor even if they are in dire need of one is the feeling of apprehension—a certain fear that comes with meeting and having to trust someone you don’t really know. Aside from that, seniors like us are fiercely loyal to our life-long doctors, even if they are practicing an entirely different medical field from what we really need. Nonetheless, we should keep in mind that when dealing with our own health, it is important to consult the right kind of doctor so we can avoid getting misdiagnosed.
When trying to choose the right doctor for you, a good place to start is within your area. Put together a list of doctors conveniently practicing within your reach while keeping in mind their expertise. For example, if you are having problems with your stomach then you should look for a gastroenterologist. By pinpointing the right kind of doctor for your current health problem, you eliminate the possibility of being shuffled from one doctor to another. If, at the moment, all you need is someone to look after your health in general terms then go for a geriatrician since they are trained to care for older people. Once the list is accomplished, your next step is finding out if your health insurance covers them. Do know that if you are a member of a care plan, they have their own list of participating doctors. Consulting with a non-participant will cost you more. A list of participating doctors is always available upon inquiry with your care plan company.
By now, you must have cut your list down to a half. Your next step would be calling their offices and knowing the hours they keep, that is, their practicing hours, as well as the medical background a certain doctor has. It is also important to ask about their office policies and verify the types of insurances they take. Go the extra mile by checking if they are Board-certified by going online. American Board of Medical Specialties has a website which you can use to check your doctor.
It will also do you good if you ask around for referrals—better if you can find someone who had the same condition as you are having right now. This will give you an idea how the doctor handles cases like yours.
