Doctor shopping

Filed in archive Miscellany on October 2, 2005

How to doctor shop. Some nice tips:

"Most people find a doctor by getting a referral from a friend or relative," said Dr. Caroline Rudnick, an assistant clinical professor of family medicine at St. Louis University, and a family physician who often counts as her patients all members of a family. "Usually, they don't know anything about our background when they come to see us."

When doctor-shopping, experts suggest you start by checking your potential doctor's credentials. This is no time to be shy, Rudnick said. She encourages prospective patients to inquire about the doctors' medical training -- where they went to medical school, did their residency.

You should also ask about the scope of their practice. Do the doctors care for patients of all ages? And if you have a chronic condition like diabetes, you should ask if they have a lot of experience dealing with patients with the disease, Rudnick suggested.

"You should also feel free to ask about the mechanics of the practice," said Dr. Mary Frank, president of the American Academy of Family Physicians, and a family physician in Rohnert Park, Calif.