While healthcare should be an important focus for everyone, the healthcare system can be difficult to navigate. Some people have had negative experiences at doctor's offices, others struggle to make payments or find the right insurance. If you're in need of healthcare professionals, here are some tips on finding the right professionals to care for your health.
1. Know Your Network
If you are insured, find a list of care providers within your insurance network. You can usually find a database or list online, but you can always call to find the information if you need to. Or, if you already have a doctor you like but recently found new insurance, you can call to make sure the doctor is in-network. Having this list can make shopping for a new provider easier, since in-network providers tend to cost less. Even if you don't plan on visiting a provider any time soon, this list can come in handy in emergencies, like if you need to find an urgent care in Brooklyn. This is also something you may want to check periodically, since the list can change. You don't want to find a great doctor only to realize they are no longer in-network.
2. Call for Information
If there is a healthcare provider you already know you'd like to see, call the office for any questions you may have. You can ask about the age range of patients they see, typical office hours, and how long it takes to get an appointment. Many offices see large numbers of patients and are regularly booked out months in advance. Sometimes you can get squeezed in if it's urgent and there's a cancellation, but an office like this may not be best if you have health conditions that require more frequent care. If you generally only see your doctor for annual checkups, a busy office may not be a problem for you. You may also want to learn more about the size of the office and what specialties they offer. Some practices include many different doctors with different specializations. You may be able to go to a general practitioner and a dentist or dermatologist in the same building. Some practices also conduct their own blood work and other testing, so they can get results faster.
3. Research
When researching a potential healthcare provider, be mindful about where you get your reviews. Friends and family tend to be a valuable resource in this department, since people who are happy with a product or service tend to be happy to recommend that product or service to others. Plus, if you've had issues with doctors in the past, a friend may be a more trusted source for you. If you look for reviews online, make sure they're from a third party source, not just the ones posted on the office's website. See which offices are close by that offer the services you need and narrow down your choices for when it's time to make an appointment.
4. Go for a Test Drive
Once you've collected all the relevant information you can, make an appointment with the best candidate. Depending on your healthcare needs, it may take several visits for you to get the care you need, and therefore several visits to decide if you're happy with the provider you chose. To save time, make sure you go to the appointment prepared. If possible, you may want to fill out paperwork and request records ahead of time. Bring your insurance card and any prescriptions with you to the first visit, though it's a good idea to keep your insurance card in your wallet.
Finding a new healthcare provider can be stressful even if you don't visit the doctor often. Even if you don't think it's necessary to go through the trouble of vetting a provider, you never know when an unexpected health condition or emergency will pop up, so it's best to be prepared with a provider you know and like.