As a patient, you should take responsibility to
be a partner in your healthcare by educating yourself about your condition
and being willing to talk honestly with your doctor once you have found
one. To help you with this choice, there is an extremely useful online
publication, "Your Guide to Choosing Quality Health Care" that
is available at http://www.ahcpr.gov/consumer/qnt/qntdr.htm.
It contains detailed discussions about choosing all aspects of your health
care.
The guide suggests that you look for a doctor
who:
Is rated to give quality
care.
Has the training and
background to meet your needs.
Takes steps to prevent
illness.
Has privileges at the
hospital you prefer.
Is covered by your health
insurance plan.
Encourages you to ask
questions.
Listens to you.
Explains things clearly
and makes sure you understand.
Treats you with respect.
Other resources include the "Physician Select"
service on the American Medical Association's website (http://www.ama-assn.org;
click on "Doctor Finder" at the top of the home page); the doctor
referral service at your hospital of choice; and recommendations from
family, friends, neighbors, and coworkers. To check on the quality of
a doctor the following sites may be useful: http://www.docboard.org
and http://certifacts.org
(has information about whether doctors are certified as specialists).
This information
is provided as a general educational service
and is not intended to recommend any particular treatment plan
or to replace the advice of physicians. It is important that patients
seek and rely on the advice of a healthcare professional
about their individual medical conditions.
