My doctor has packed up and left the country, literally; he moved to Canada. Since that’s a little bit of a drive from Oregon, I guess I have to find a new doctor. Does anyone have any suggestions for doing this? How did you come by the doctor you have?
I started seeing this doctor about 5 years ago when I first signed up for my HMO. My previous MD had just retired and the HMO assigned me to a doctor that wasn’t taking new patients (they didn’t think that would be a problem??), so I just picked another doctor in that office that accepted my HMO. Fortunately, I liked him well enough and stayed with him. The HMO has already assigned me to another doctor, but what if I’m not so lucky this time? What if I don’t like him or he doesn’t like me or he doesn’t want to deal with my disability?
What is the easiest way to pick a new doctor? How did you do it?
Since you are on a HMO you might try asking a doctor or nurse you know and trust to recommend one for you who is part of the HMO. Also find out how often in a year you are allowed to change doctors, you should be allowed at least one or two changes a year.
If so then you can change if this one is a turkey. But really, asking another doctor or a nurse, or even a friend if you have one who uses the HMO you do, is gonna be your best best.
Thanks, Ayesha. I may end up doing that after all. I called this new doctor’s office and he isn’t taking new patients, either. Isn’t the HMO supposed to look into this before assigning doctors??
I wait until I am sick and then I go to the hospital or clinic and see whoever I see.
I’ve never had my hair cut by the same person twice. I’ve never seen the same doctor twice. Of course, I’ve only seen a doctor twice in the last ten years. If the need was more frequent, perhaps I would care more.
I have a bit of experience with this as I have moved three times in the past four years. Some options I’ve used:
Ask a local pharmacist. I found my favorite doc this way. The pharmacist said that the doc often called to find out the prices of medications for his patients with no ins, and figured he was a good guy. He was right.
Pick the hospital you would go to should you get injured and call their physician referral line. I did this for my husbands internist.
Find a practice with multiple doctors and ask their receptionist which doc SHE likes the best. This was good for my current doc, the receptionist said that she was a great doc, but always ran behind because she liked to spend a lot of time with her patients. True, and I always bring a book.
Ask around. I always ask other parents for their opinions of pediatricians for my daughter.
Call your old doc and ask HIM for a recommendation!
