Finding the Right Healthcare Professionals
Part of aging can mean spending more time with doctors and healthcare professionals to ensure you’re living the healthiest life possible. And choosing your healthcare team should be something you put together with care. Whether you’re looking for a new primary care doctor or specialist, it’s essential to find the right healthcare professionals for you.
Decide What’s Important
The first step in finding the right healthcare professional for you is to list the qualities or factors that are most important to you in a doctor. Does a doctor’s education matter to you? Are you looking for someone kind and patient, or would you prefer a more straightforward doctor? How far are you willing to travel for an appointment? Do you need someone who speaks a language besides English? Try to come up with a list of five to ten things that matter most. This list will be your guide as you assess potential healthcare professionals.
Find Doctors in Your Network
To find the best financial choice, start your search by talking to your insurance or Medicare and asking for a list of doctors in your network. Doctors within your network are an excellent place to start because these are the health care providers your insurance has pre-approved to pay. Choosing a doctor within your network reduces the chance of unexpected costs throughout care and treatment.
Do Your Research
After you’ve compiled a list of in-network doctors and have a list of essential qualities in your healthcare provider, you’ll want to do some initial research. You can start by looking at online reviews to see how other patients feel about the doctor, although keep in mind, online reviews can be biased, so don’t let a good or bad review be the deciding factor.
After browsing reviews, you can do a basic Google search on the doctor. A Google search can bring up any articles that cited them or professional websites sharing information on their practice. Next, you can check the doctor’s certifications online to ensure they’re properly certified. You can also search their name in scholarly search engines, such as Google Scholar, to see if they’ve published research or participated in any studies.
Ask for Referrals
Referrals are a great way to identify potential healthcare providers because most people will only refer doctors they know and trust. If you’re looking for a specialist, start by asking your doctor for who they send their patients to. You can also talk to the nursing and office staff to see if they have recommendations in mind.
Outside of recommendations from your healthcare provider, talk to friends and family who’ve worked with similar providers. Ask questions to find out about their experiences and interactions.
Whether your referral is from a medical professional or family friend, make sure to ask questions about any downsides or potential negatives. Understanding risks with a healthcare professional gives you a broader picture of who they are and how they will care for you.
Meet Potential Doctors and Ask Questions
Once you’ve found the doctors in your network, researched them, and narrowed down your options with recommendations, it’s time to meet your potential health care provider. When you meet with the doctor for the first time, take note of how they interact with you. Are they asking you questions about your physical and mental health? Do they make you feel comfortable? Are they allowing you to ask questions? Do they seem attentive to your needs?
During your first meeting, be sure to ask questions to know the doctor better and assess if your values align. You can ask them about their approach to care, medical education, or why they enjoy their profession. If you have specific questions about your medical history or treatment, be sure to ask those questions during your first meeting. Seeing how they answer your questions upfront will give you a sense of how they’ll care for you in the future.
Working with Visiting Angels
If you or an aging loved one is looking to expand their healthcare team, you might want to consider a caregiver from Visiting Angels Northeast Ohio. Our caregivers help seniors age in place safely by providing various non-medical tasks, such as light housekeeping, medication reminders, meal preparations, and more. Our Mentor office serves those in Lake, Geauga, and Northeast Cuyahoga counties. If you’d like to learn more about our services, you can complete this online form or call us at 440.974.0869.