Choosing the right doctor is very important for your health, but it is not always an easy process. Sometimes a doctor that was once right for you no longer meets your needs today. A red flag is that he is starting to ignore your concerns.
“Your health is one of your most important assets, and it should be prioritized in a way that makes you feel comfortable,” says Dr. LaTasha Seliby Perkins, a family physician at Georgetown University.
There are some fairly simple ways to determine whether you should stay with your current care provider or start looking for a new one.
Here are three signs that Seliby Perkins says mean you should consider changing doctors.
3 signs it’s time to break up with your doctor
- Your doctor is not asking the right questions: When you go to your doctor with a health problem and they don’t ask about your symptoms or ask for more information, it’s not a good sign, says Seliby Perkins.
- You don’t feel heard: “You should feel like your doctor is listening to you,” she says. “Ultimately, you (should) feel heard. Feeling heard is very important. »
- You are receiving treatment for a curable diagnosis, but your condition is not improving: It can be a red flag if “you’ve received a diagnosis that seems okay and you’re treating it but it’s not getting better,” says Seliby Perkins. Sometimes this involves getting a second opinion or consulting a specialist, but your doctor should support you in this process.
How to find the right doctor for you?
If you have any of the signs above, it’s probably time for you to see a new doctor. Here’s how to do it, according to Seliby Perkins:
- Find out what your insurance is and see if the doctors you’re considering accept it
- Ask if the doctor you are seeing is in your network
- Ask your primary care physician for recommendations if you are looking for a specialist
- Check online doctor ratings and reviews
- Research where their clinics are located to ensure you choose a doctor within a convenient distance of your home.
- Find out if they offer telemedicine appointments if that’s a need
- Consider the importance of having a doctor who looks like you (based on your gender, race, or other factors).
“Once you check those boxes, go on your first date, meet them, and make sure it’s a good fit for you,” she says.
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