Is Your Doctor Board Certified in His or Her Specialty?

Forbes: When to Fire Your Doctor

Board certification is no guarantee that your doctor will practice high quality, cost-effective care, but most specialties now require periodic recertification; that means your doctor has provided evidence that he or she has kept current with new developments.

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When to Fire You... Parting ways with a doctor is inconvenient. First you have to transfer your records. Then you have to tell your story all over again to someone new. Still, there are times when it's better to go than to stay. Here are some factors to weigh.You can read the full story here.

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Are You Confiden... If you have serious doubts about a physician’s competence, you should look for a new one. Surprisingly, many people settle for the status quo because they have been with the doctor a long time, they are friends or they don’t want to hurt the doctor’s feelings.

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Is Your Doctor o... While many hospitals have staff physicians to care for you, being a member of the staff allows your own doctor to look at your chart and be involved in your care.

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Is Your Doctor B... Board certification is no guarantee that your doctor will practice high quality, cost-effective care, but most specialties now require periodic recertification; that means your doctor has provided evidence that he or she has kept current with new developments.

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Does the Doctor ... An office visit or phone call shouldn't leave you feeling that you must follow the doctor’s recommendations without hesitation. You should be able to raise questions or ask about things you have read.

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How Does the Doc... When prescribing a new drug, the doctor should explain why you need it and discuss its potential side effects and interactions. If cost is an issue for you, he or she should be sensitive to that and use generics whenever possible.

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Does the Doctor ... Many people rely on a primary care physician for referrals to specialists; ask yourself whether you have been happy with those referrals. Your doctor shouldn’t become angry or defensive if you request a second opinion.

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Is the Office Di... Phone calls aren’t returned promptly. You have to chase down test results. It takes three phone calls to get a prescription refilled. It’s hard to get an appointment. When you finally do, you’re stuck in the waiting room for at least an hour. Sound familiar? You don't have to put up with any of this.

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Are There Too Ma... Ancillary clinicians, such as a physician’s assistant, nurse practitioner or covering physician are an important part of the healthcare team. But if you rarely see your own doctor, that’s a bad sign.

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Does Your Doctor... Before starting you on a new course of therapy, your doctor should say something like “the latest studies show” or “recent guidelines suggest.” This is called evidence-based medicine. During a check-up, your doctor should make sure that all your immunizations are up to date, and that you are receiving all of the age-appropriate screening procedures.

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Are You Satisfie... If you have a busy schedule, the location of the office and the availability of extended hours might matter. Being able to log on to electronic medical records using a secure web site and make appointments online are both added conveniences. And a doctor who answers e-mail offers the ultimate access.

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