Or maybe you feel that your doctor isn't listening to you and doesn't show you the respect necessary to gain your trust. Whatever the reason may be, that fact of the matter is that certain doctors just don't mesh well with certain patients. And if you are unsure if that's the case in your current situation, we had actual medical professionals identify the signs that indicate it might be time to seek a second opinion and find a new doctor. Sometimes, you know in your gut that something is amiss, but test after test is inconclusive.
If your doctor is dismissing your concerns and symptoms and leaning too heavily on levels and numbers, it's time to find a new provider. If a doctor speaks to you as though you're a child or you're incapable of understanding what he or she is saying, it may be a warning sign that they aren't the right fit for you. If your doctor starts getting too personal—and ignores the professional—you may want to move on.
For example, one Reddit user told her doctor that her libido had "tanked" and asked if it might be related to her birth control pills.
The doctor's response? She had been with the same guy for two years and should probably break up with him if she wanted her libido to return to normal. I got a new doctor, got an IUD to replace the pills, and kept the boyfriend," the Reddit user wrote, noting that her libido is now back to normal. Your doctor should never come across as judgmental during your interactions.
If you're opening up to them about things that could affect your personal health, like being sexually active at a young age, they should listen with open ears—only offering medical advice. If that's not possible, you are not in the right place. Lack of eye contact during your appointments is one of the surefire signs you need a new doctor. In fact, Patel says that many of her patients have told her that when a doctor doesn't look them in the eye and instead looks at a screen or is typing during the duration of their visit, they don't feel heard.
Similarly, Neel Anand , MD, professor of orthopedic surgery and director of spine trauma at Cedars-Sinai Spine Center in Los Angeles, California, emphasizes the importance of a doctor's ability to actively listen to your concerns. Although your doctor may already have an idea regarding your problem, Kouri notes that they should listen to all your concerns before weighing in.
If a doctor you're seeing for an extended period of time consistently brushes off your questions , you should find someone who's a better fit.
If you have important questions that [they're] acting annoyed by, it may be time to move on," Kouri says. A physician should be willing to take the time to answer all of your questions in non-technical terms, says Geoffrey Westrich , MD, director of research in adult reconstruction and joint replacement at the Hospital for Special Surgery in New York City.
Since you often interact more with other members of the staff than you do with your actual doctor, Kouri says it's important that you are satisfied with those interactions, as well. Do you have particular conditions that you need to know how to take care of? Or are you mainly there for preventive health? Ask for recommendations. Your current provider could also give a recommendation.
Check the hospitals where your potential providers are affiliated. This online directory provides information about nearly every licensed physician in the U. To help with your decision, you should review the list of healthcare providers connected to your current health insurance. Local or national medical groups can provide help, too. They will have a list of doctors. You may also consider checking out a physician rating website, like HealthGrades, to review patient comments.
However, Nadkarni cautions against only using these ratings to make your choice. Be sure to consider other aspects of visiting this provider, such as travel time and scheduling policies. Is it through phone, email or MyChart? In fact, you may want to visit your new provider before entirely ending your relationship with the old one.
Nadkarni encourages people to take their time. Obtain either paper or electronic copies of your medical records. You could also have them sent directly to the office of your new provider.
I definitely want to know what medications they are taking, and a good family history is important as well. Nadkarni says not to worry. Knowing your allergies and knowing your medications are probably the two most important things. I can pretty much piece together a lot about your medical history based on the medications you are on.
However, Nadkarni does recommend keeping a summary of your emergency room visits. What did they do well? What are you expecting, what are your fears, what do you want me to do for you? Nadkarni recommends that you ask as many questions of your new provider as you need. There are good studies that show that patients who ask more questions are more engaged and have better outcomes.
As a physician, I like it when a patient asks me questions. Not comfortable enough to ask questions? Take it as a sign, Nadkarni advises. Know when to switch. Changing doctors is a serious decision.
Sometimes, the decision to switch is out of necessity. For example, if you or your doctor is moving out of the area, then it may be necessary to find a new doctor. Unfortunately, sometimes negligence or poor performance on behalf of your current doctor may prompt the desire to switch.
You should consider finding a new doctor if any of the following occur: The doctor dismisses your complaints, especially if you're older. Elderly patients frequently have doctors who overlook or ignore ailments by simply blaming age. If you have a specific condition, and your doctor is not a specialist in that area, you need to find a new doctor.
Decide what to tell your former doctor, if anything. When switching doctors, you need to decide whether your reasons for leaving are worth explaining. If you're leaving your doctor because you were unhappy with his or her services, it's okay to express this. Doctors do like to keep patients happy and their reputation intact, so feedback may help their performance in the future. However, many people are not comfortable with face-to-face confrontation.
You could consider writing a letter and mailing it to your doctor's office. Doctors are generally busy and may not notice a missing patient, especially if your visits are infrequent.
Ask your former doctor for a referral. Sometimes, switching doctors is not a result of a bad relationship between doctor and patient. If you and your doctor are on good terms, there's no better source to ask for a referral to a new physician than your former doctor.
Chances are your doctor has a colleague in the area that will make a good replacement. Medical schools are wide-reaching communities and physicians often end up with a nation-wide list of references.
Even if you are switching due to a big move, your doctor could still help. As your doctor already knows your medical history, he or she can help you search for a new physician who can cater to your specific needs.
In fact, your doctor may actually suggest you transfer to a specialist if they're having trouble with your particular condition. Part 2. Ask around. Seek out the advice of people you trust, like friends and family members, as you begin your search for a new physician. Ask friends and family members a variety of questions. Ask if they know a good doctor, whether they'd recommend their current doctor, how long it takes to get an appointment, what the waiting time is like, and how long their doctor generally spends with patients.
A specialist doctor might be able to refer you to a friend or a colleague. Search online. There are a variety of ways to find a doctor through online searches. This can be especially helpful if you're new to the area and do not know anyone who you could ask. The American Medical Association has a doctor finder tool.
Not only can you find doctors in your area who specialize in certain fields, you can also get a sense of a doctor's reputation. Information on medical malpractice records and overall patient satisfaction is available.
They generally have a list of doctors that take your insurance, and you can search by field and location. Other websites like healthfinder. People often only post if they loved or hated a doctor, so opinions are often biased or given in response to temporary frustrations. Schedule your first appointment. Once you have found a doctor you think might be right for you, you should schedule an appointment as soon as possible. There, you can discuss your medical history and specific needs with your new physician.
When you call to schedule an appointment, have a variety of questions ready. Ask how long an appointment typically takes, how long lab work and x-rays take to process, whether your doctor is board certified, and who sees patients if your doctor is out of town.
Make sure you know your medical history thoroughly before going in and have a list of all your current medications and their dosages.
You will also be asked about any drug allergies, or serious reactions to drugs, so make sure you have this information as well. Do a mental recap before going in of any major illnesses or ailments, like cancer and heart attacks, in your family's history. Evaluate your experience. After your first appointment, you need to consider whether this doctor is right for you.
If not, then you can continue to look elsewhere. Be honest with yourself. Were you comfortable at the doctor's office? Did your new doctor repeat any mistakes your old doctor made? You don't want to switch over and end up with the same set of problems.
If you weren't happy with your experience, keep looking. Was your new doctor able to help you with your specific medical issues?
If the new doctor's area of expertise does not apply to your situation, you might want to keep looking.
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