Match Made in Health: Finding The Right Doctor is A Lot Like Dating

Finding the right doctor can be similar to dating. There may be a lot of people to chose from, but finding the right healthcare professional takes research and perseverance.

Doctors and the clients they treat agree it's not as simple as going to your insurance company and asking for a recommendation. These days as the community becomes increasingly medical saavy and science advances, it's become even easier to get the healthcare you need and want.

Personal preferences are a natural part of finding healthcare. Patients should feel comfortable sharing personal and intimate details with their doctor. Gender, location, friendly staff and wait times are all important factors in selecting a doctor.

Location is such a big deal to Town 'n Country resident Natalie Simon that she is willing to commute an average of 45-minutes to the nurse practitioner she has been seeing for seven years.

“She doesn’t talk down to me…or make me feel like I’m making bad decisions,” Simon said. “She talks to me.”

It's that relationship dynamic that many doctors strive for.

 “Patients should get a sense that the doctor actually cares for them,” said Dr. Andrew Danks of Danks Family Chiropractic in Westchase. “You are not going to find that out from any business or insurance website."

After you garner leads with strong vocal press behind them, research their experience and qualifications.

Dr. Joseph Aguiar of Aguiar Plastic Surgery recommends finding out if your prospective doctor is board certified.

“They should specify what their training is in,” said Aguiar, whose office is in Westchase. “In the state of Florida a physician can practice in whatever they want, and that’s legal…if you want to find out what they’re trained in, look up their board specialties."

Aguiar advises patients to be wary of doctors practicing in areas where they are not board certified.

Patients can be their own best advocates in this department by using oline tools like  the American Board of Medical Specialties (ABMS) website to check certifications.

Now that the search has been thinned significantly, the American Medical Association advises patients to find out a doctor’s fee schedule. Find out what your insurance covers and when payment is expected.

Since insurance may not cover all of the fees associated with seeing a chiropractor, Danks urges finding out the price structure before whipping out an insurance card.

“Sometimes, in terms of chiropractic, insurance doesn’t cover everything,” Danks said. “I’ve seen co-pays that are more expensive than my cash price.”

After your search is cut down to one or two doctors, it’s time for a check-up. To ensure the best care, make sure that your cell phone is off said Aguiar. He also advises patients to be prepared for their visit with questions.

“Write down your questions,” advised Aguiar. “It will help you remember those things when it’s time to sit down with your doctor.”

Finally, if a doctor recommends a particular treatment or procedure, make sure that you understand their suggestions before you leave.

Westchase resident Dan Morchower seeks a physician that will not only confirm understanding of an ailment, but also make sure that he is satisfied with the diagnosis.

“A lot of times the doctor will say ‘oh it’s nothing’ and walk away…show me the evidence that it’s nothing so that I don’t have to worry about it,” Morchower said.

A quality physician will be thorough in their explanation and educate their patients on the procedure and its alternative, Aguiar said.

“People get a much more comfortable feeling when they understand what’s going on," Aguiar said. "Rather than simply going to the doctor and getting stuck with a needle."