Your healthcare providers play a key role in your health, so make sure you choose a doctor or hospital that is right for you. You should feel comfortable sharing personal, health-related information with your doctor and trust he or she is listening to you. You shouldn't feel rushed during appointments, and he or she should give you his or her undivided attention. But how do you find the right doctor or hospital?
Here are some tips to help you get started:
Choose a Doctor or Hospital in Your SummaCare Network
It's important to make sure the doctor or hospital you choose is in your SummaCare network. Find a Doctor or Hospital in your network using SummaCare’s online search.
SummaCare Member Services can also assist you in finding a doctor or hospital through the online search. Contact us today.
Research and narrow down your list of options:
- Ask Friends and Family
One of the best ways to find a healthcare provider is to ask your friends and family for recommendations. Be sure to ask what they like about the provider. Otherwise, you may find that you don't have the same preferences when it comes to medical professionals. For example, you may like a doctor who explains a diagnosis in detail, while your friend would rather skip to learning about treatment options.
- Consider Location and Office Hours
Choose a provider whose office or location is conveniently located to work or home. It's also important to make sure the office or location hours allow for visits that fit into your schedule. Ask about the doctor's after hours availability. Many offices have an after-hours number to call for non-emergency care. Use SummaCare's online search to find doctors with extended office hours.
- Research Education and Experience
SummaCare's online search allows you to view education information for doctors, including medical school, board certification, residency location and internship location. You can also include additional criteria to narrow your search, such as gender, languages spoken, location, specialty, provider type and board certification.
Make a list of the questions that are important to you and contact several providers.
Here are some questions you may want to ask the office staff:
- Is the doctor accepting new patients?
- What are the office hours?
- Is it convenient to reach the doctor after hours?
- How quickly can I get an appointment if I need to be seen soon, but it is not an emergency?
- How do you communicate test results and other important information to your patients?
- If you needed to be admitted to a hospital, what hospitals does the doctor use?
