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Finding the right doctor for you

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Photo by Kyle Bursaw

First-year resident Adam Atkins demonstrates to his 2-year-old patient Cayden Sachs how he wants him to stick out his tongue during a routine checkup Wednesday at Mercy Clinic South in Janesville.

Photo

Photo by Kyle Bursaw

As part of Mercy’s three-year physician training program, resident Adam Atkins conducts other wellness checks on Cayden Sachs, peering into his ear.

Photo

Photo by Kyle Bursaw

As part of Mercy’s three-year physician training program, resident Adam Atkins conducts other wellness checks on Cayden Sachs, listening to his heart.

JANESVILLE — Maybe you're new to the area.

Or your teen is now an adult.

Or your doctor left the area.

Or you're not comfortable with your doctor.

In any case, finding a new primary care physician can seem daunting. How do you find a doctor you like and trust?

Having a doctor you see regularly and who knows you and your medical history is key to your health, doctors say.

"I think everybody needs a primary care physician, bottom line," said James Horton, family medicine and obstetrics physician at Mercy Clinic South.

Not only does a primary care doctor get to know you and your health issues, having one provides a place to go instead heading to the emergency room when you have an earache, he said.

"If you 'doctor hop,' no one really knows what's going on with you," said Julie Waraksa, a pediatrician at Dean Health System's Northview Clinic. "That can have some really terrible consequences, especially when it comes to something like drug interactions."

He said most people choose from four types of physicians when picking a primary care doctor:

-- Pediatricians, who provide primary care for newborns to late adolescents.

-- Internal medicine specialists (internists), who are trained in adult medicine and the aging process. They typically treat patients 18 years and older.

-- Family practitioners, who treat patients of all ages, or the whole family, from children to grandparents.

-- OB/GYNs, who are trained in pregnancy and childbirth and other women's gynecological health issues. Many women use their OB/GYN as their primary care physician.

So how do you go about finding the right doctor for you? Here are some tips and steps to follow, according to Horton and literature from Waraksa.

-- What do you want?

"That's the first thing you have to decide," Horton said. "What are your needs in a doctor?"

Do you want someone who will treat the whole family? Do you want someone in adult medicine? A pediatrician? Does it matter if the doctor is a man or woman?

-- Ask around.

Talk to friends, family, neighbors and coworkers for recommendations.

"That's usually what happens," Horton said. "Sometimes good, sometimes not."

Your insurance company and local physician referral centers also can provide suggestions, especially doctors your insurance will cover.

Several Web sites, including some run by the government, provide tips and doctors' credentials, he said. Both Mercy and Dean offer doctor referral lines as starting points.

-- Ask questions.

Once you know what you want, call the doctor's office and find out if the doctor you want does what you want. For example, some internists don't do gynecology. Others do.

"It's one of those things you have to ask," Horton said.

Other questions: Will insurance accept this provider? What hospital does the doctor use? What are the office hours? Is the office open on nights or weekends? Who covers for the doctor if he's not in? How far in advance do you need to book appointments? How quickly can you be seen for things such as an earache?

-- Finding chemistry.

"There's some people who you're going to like and some you're not going to get along with," Horton said. "That's just the way life is."

He suggests calling the office to talk to staff or the doctor, if possible. But there's nothing like face-to-face conversation, he said, so an introductory appointment to discuss your medical issues is an option.

That might mean spending money on a co-pay, but then you can see if the doctor answers questions in ways you understand and if you like him, he said.

"Personal chemistry is so important," he said. "If it's non-existent, then it's no good for you or your health in the long run."

If the two of you don't click, keep looking.

"Don't stay because you feel guilty or embarrassed to switch," Waraksa said. "Find someone you trust."

-- Some other things to keep in mind:

Some doctors won't accept new patients.

If you choose a doctor who is in a residency program, he or she likely will be gone in a few years. A residency is a training program after medical school that allows physicians to decided what they want to specialize in, Horton said. Mercy's south clinic has a family residency where physicians generally practice for three years. Having such a doctor offers pros and cons.

Patients are able to spend a little more time with their resident doctor, and often you get two heads—the resident and a faculty member, Horton said.

"The bad thing is in two or three years … they'll be leaving that program."

VISIT FREQUENCY

How often should you see a doctor?

Women tend to take better care of themselves than men, said James Horton, family medicine and obstetrics physician at Mercy Clinic South.

Often, it's because they go to the doctor when they foresee a problem.

"Guys just don't," Horton said. "From Day 1, we're told to suck it up. If it's not bleeding out or falling off, you'll be OK."

Often when men come into Horton's office, he asks them, "What brings you in?"

"They look at me and say, ‘My wife made me.' Not ‘This headache won't go away,' or ‘I'm vomiting all the time,'" he said with a laugh.

Healthy men, however, don't need to see a doctor annually, he said. Generally, young, healthy men can go three to five years between visits, he said.

Women, on the other hand, usually need annual exams.

"At least every other, that's at a minimum," Horton said.

Women on birth control pills should be seen every year, he said, "just to make sure things are working right."