There’s a huge difference between window shopping, shopping as a form of retail therapy, and shopping for a service, such as a new hair stylist, a new electrical contractor, or even a new doctor or medical clinic. Just think about it; out of all of the three aforementioned choices, which one sounds like the most fun to do?
It’s safe to say that most people wouldn’t choose the last option, which is trying to find a new service, which can be just as if not more stressful than dating! After all, trying to find new medical help such as a new urgent care clinic, local walk in clinic, or the best doctors in town, is a huge commitment and one that could have lasting, long term effects on your health and well being!
Fortunately, there is plenty of help and resources available out there to make the process of finding a new medical professional quick, easy and maybe even a bit enjoyable in some cases! Whether you’re moving into a new area and don’t know a single soul or you’ve been seeing the same primary care physician forever and it’s time to break up, or you have to find a specialist for a certain condition that’s beyond the scope of expertise of your current primary care doctor, you can use a variety of tools and techniques to find a medical profession that’s right for your needs.
The worst thing to do is to procrastinate and avoid finding a new medical professional because you fear the process of finding one will be too hard or difficult to do! Not only is this not necessarily true, but you’re playing a dangerous game by putting your own personal health at risk! Even if the process of finding a medical professional was actually as hard as people thought, it still doesn’t justify putting your own health at risk.
There’s a few important things to keep in mind when trying to find a new medical professional. First and foremost, you should always feel comfortable with any kind of medical professional at all times. Whether it’s a plastic surgeon, an oncologist, a dermatologist, or a general surgeon, you should always feel comfortable interacting with a medical professional and asking them questions at all times.
You should never feel rushed, on edge, or disrespected. It’s natural to feel a bit of anxiety or or nervousness when going to a medical appointment, but you should never feel as though your medical professional doesn’t take you seriously or is makes you feel a sense of unease! Keep this in mind when going forward in finding a new medical professional.
With all that being said, there are a variety of ways to find a new doctor that you’re comfortable with. Although living in the digital age has made it extremely easy and effortless in terms of staying connected and having easy access to information online, don’t underestimate the power of word of mouth! Many people find it extremely comforting to receive a personal recommendation for a doctor from a family member, close friend, coworker, neighbor, or acquaintance. Getting a personal recommendation from someone you respect, know, and trust is a great way to get an honest, first hand account of what you can expect from a certain medical professional.
If getting a first hand recommendation isn’t possible for some reason, such as because you’re moving to a completely new area, than using a doctors directory is another excellent way to find a new medical professional you are comfortable with. A doctors directory is compilation of doctors ratings in a given field and physical location. A doctors directory can be found online, provided by your insurance company, or printed, or provided through another service such as a charitable organization.
A doctors directory is almost like a cheat sheet that allows you to see what other patients have experienced with a medical professional. A doctors directory lets you see the nitty, the gritty, the good, the bad, and the ugly without having to actually experience all of that first hand.