When Do You Need to Change Your Doctor?

Have you ever just stuck with your doctor because it was convenient? I know I have. I don't know whether I'm afraid of change, or it's because my doctor's office if close by, but I am guilty of this. I have decided though that it's time to change my doctor, and I'll tell you why.

I've only seen my doctor twice in the three years that I've been her patient. She's very pleasant to talk to, but doesn't seem to interested in follow-up appointments. There was an 18 month gap between my first appointment and next appointment with her. I never heard from her in between appointments, and she refilled my prescriptions, no questions asked. I'm only on a blood pressure medication, but I think after a year she would have said I needed to come in and be rechecked. My last appointment was last October. I scheduled a physical and it took six weeks to get this appointment. Three days prior to my appointment, I ruptured my Achilles tendon and I asked her to look at it. She examined it, which took maybe a full minute and said to keep on what I was doing. She asks me routine questions about my health, then looks at her watch and says she only has a few minutes left to finish my exam! At this point I was perplexed!!! She did the female portion of the exam and nothing else. No listening to my heart, lungs, looking at my throat or ears. Nothing. Oh, she did order annual lab work.

To this day I still can't believe that I didn't say anything to her. I've worked in doctors offices. I know what a physical is. I was just so dumb-founded when she made that comment, that I didn't think to respond.

I have an HMO for insurance, so it's pretty easy for me to change doctors. All I have to do log on to their website, find doctors that I'm interested in, then see if they are accepting new patients. I've also used YELP to look at reviews of doctors as well, and to see what other people/patients have commented about them. If I see someone who looks good, but after reading reviews see that he/she is frequently behind schedule, I probably wouldn't choose them.

Now, not all people have the luxury of changing doctors as easily as I do. With Obama Care now, more and more doctors offices are feeling the impact of additional patients and having a hard time keeping up with the ones that they already have. Also, you may have to call around and see if the doctor you have in mind accepts your insurance. Not all doctors take every insurance that is out there.

If you are thinking about changing doctors, ask yourself these questions?

• Do I like my doctor? Is he/she pleasant and does he/she listen to me?
• How easy is it to get an appointment?
• Are same day appointments available for urgent issues?
• What are her/his policies when they're unavailable?
• What is his/her refill policy?
• Are they on time or frequently run behind?
• Is their office staff pleasant?
• Do they call you back if you have a question?
• Does he/she feel rushed when you see them?
• Do they take family members?
• Do they accept and bill my insurance?
• Do they have positive patient reviews?

These are just a few of the questions I would ask. I would also ask friends and family members for recommendations. As a consumer, you have the right to the best medical care possible and shouldn't accept anything less.