Here's How:
Check with your HMO or PPO for a list of providers.
Remember, if you have an HMO, your insurance plan will only cover services provided by a physician on the HMO’s provider list. If you are on a PPO, you will be able to see doctors listed on your PPO's provider list for a lower out-of-pocket fee. So it really pays to choose a doctor from your provider list!
Do a quality check.
For records of the licensing background and any disciplinary action against doctors licensed your state, you can check the Administrators in Medicine database. You can also check directly with your state’s medical licensing board.
Check the American Medical Association's Physician Select database to find out if your doctor is board certified.
Consider what you are looking for in a doctor.
Do you, or does anyone in your family, have any particular medical conditions that you would like your doctor to have specialized experience treating? Do you have preferences for certain types of treatments over others? Think about what is important to you and your family when it comes to healthcare needs.
Check out this site for examples of more questions to consider when choosing a doctor.
Now that you've determined what you want in a doctor, call the doctor's office and find out as much as you can about him or her before making an appointment.
Don't be afraid to ask all of your questions! Remember, you are entrusting your health to this person.
Meet the doctor.
If you like what you hear from the doctor's office staff, make an appointment to see the doctor. It is best not to wait until you are sick and desperate; try scheduling an annual checkup, and see how you feel about the doctor after meeting him or her in person. Does the doctor listen to your concerns? Do you feel like you are being rushed through the exam? Consider how comfortable you are with the doctor before making your final decision.
