Tips for finding the right doctor near you
One of the most important health care decision you have to make for yourself and for your family is finding the right go-to doctor. The doctor-patient relationship is quite an intimate one. Amongst all professionals, a doctor is someone whom we share the most intimate details about our personal health. Additionally, doctors tend to have an important part to play in your general and mental wellbeing.

However, there are certain tips you can follow to find the right doctor who also is located near you.

How to find the right doctor for you?

• With the help of the Affordable Care Act, the number of people with health insurance has drastically increased.
• A lot more people are in search of the perfect general physician they can call their own.
• Finding the right doctor has become easier with access to the Internet available to all.
• Scores of websites enlist doctors with their specializations, locations at which they practice, and reviews from patients who have visited them.
• To top it up, you can also book an appointment with any doctor of your choice online by merely registering on any of the websites.
• If you are still unsure to take help of the Internet for finding a doctor, the traditional method is your go-to. You can take recommendations from your family, friends, neighbors, or colleagues to find a doctor for yourself.

How to determine the type of doctor you need?

• If you already have a general physician treating you and your family, depending on the health concern you are facing, you can take a recommendation from your general physician for a specialist.
• A specialist is a doctor who specialized in a certain area of medicine. For example, a gynecologist deals with the health of breasts and female reproductive organs, an orthopedic surgeon specializes in the diagnosis, treatment, rehabilitation of injuries, and diseases associated with the bones, joints, muscles, tendons, etc.
• Depending upon your diagnosis or health concern, you can either ask for a recommendation from your general physician or research online for a good specialist treating the required medical condition near or in your area.

How to compile a list of doctors in your area?

• There are quite a few ways to list out the best doctors in your area.
• The list can be created by getting information using your insurance carrier’s directory or by an online search on a website for doctor’s databases in your network. As doctors are not stable with their plans, you can call the office to verify if the doctor still agrees to your insurance.
• You can search specialist doctors in your area and browse through their profile.
• To find certified doctors you can go to certificationmatter.org where you can get a list of doctors who have earned a medical degree from a reputed medical college with qualified residency training.
• Most of the Americans focus on considering compatibility while choosing their physician. Let your first step be to see if you are comfortable and are able to communicate with the doctor.

What major factors should you consider when you are choosing a doctor?
Some of the factors that you need to consider while choosing a doctor are:

• Clinic location – It is important that the doctor practices somewhere close to where you stay or work. As a doctor who practices too far away can be hard to reach in times of an emergency.
• Hospital affiliation – Check if the doctor is affiliated to any hospital. In the case of a hospitalization, your doctor must be able to treat you.
• Specialty – It is vital that your doctor is a specialist in the field of your health concern. Always visit a gynecologist for issues, a orthopedic for issues related to bone and muscle health, a diabetologist for issues concerning diabetes, a pediatrician for your child/children, etc.
• Experience – Experience is crucial when it comes to the doctor. Your and your family’s health literally depends upon this individual, a doctor who is experienced is better equipped in handling health concerns.
• Educational background – Along with experience, the education background as well as where your doctor has gotten his medical degree from plays a role in his/her experience as well as expertise. Always check the doctor’s educational background before choosing him/her as your doctor.

Which websites can help you find the right doctor near you?
Client reviews really work well to get to find doctors near you, their rating is based on the doctor’s qualifications, clients, hospitals, services, and health plans. Here are some websites that offer reviews for doctors near you:

• • AngiesList – People who meet their doctors through this website review them on a scale of A to F, often based on responses and classifications like the effectiveness of treatment, availability, approachability, punctuality, and staff friendliness. The website requires an annual membership ranging from approximately $4 to $10, depending on the services you choose.
  • AMA DoctorFinder – Using this website, you can browse detailed information of more than 815,000 physicians in the country. You can get information on the board certification, specialization, and more. However, there are no details on disciplinary actions, communication skills, or patient outcomes.
  • Castle Connolly – This website rates doctors based on screening, research, peer nominations, and other factors. You can find a doctor near you using filters for location, name, insurance, hospital, and specialty.
  • National Committee for Quality Assurance – The National Committee for Quality Assurance website provides reliable information about physicians, who meet principle eligibility in measures like being patient-friendly, specialty, etc.
  • Healthgrades – An easy-to-use website, Healthgrades allows you to search a doctor by his/her name, location, specialty, procedure, and/or condition. The doctors’ profiles also include information regarding affiliated hospitals, educational background, sanctions, board actions, location, malpractice claims, and insurance plans. The ratings are based on the patients’ feedbacks and clients’ satisfaction.