Finding a good doctor?

[secondmonkey]

I've been to a lot of doctors in the last year and a half. I've had a lot of problems, and been to a lot of specialists. At least 90% of them are either jerks, idiots, and/or theives. My primary care doctor was good at medicine, but difficult to talk to and "allways right". Mainly I just saw him for initial appointments and to then refer me to the proper specialist, and stayed with him just 'cause I had for 7 years. He finally sent ME a letter and said he's closing shop. Good. Now I can find a GOOD new doctor.

One of my specialists is GREAT. He's very nice, very smart, and been specializing for some 40 years. Goes out of his way to over explain and help and offer suggestions and spends extra amounts of time with you if necessary. But he doesn't do primary care.

How can I find another good primary care doctor like that? Where do I even look to find a GREAT doctor? My old doctor is refering me to some lady, who I know nothing about and I'd prefer a guy too. Is there some kind of good referal service for doctors and information about how long they've been doing it?

 

[ajax49]

Talk to the specialist you think is great. Ask him for recommendtions.

 

[KaraBulut]

How can I find another good primary care doctor like that? Where do I even look to find a GREAT doctor? My old doctor is refering me to some lady, who I know nothing about and I'd prefer a guy too. Is there some kind of good referal service for doctors and information about how long they've been doing it?

If you are in an insurance plan where you have to use one of their their doctors, you can go to the insurance company's website and get a list of doctors that are on that plan. The website will also list information about the doctor like where they went to school, when they graduated and whether they are accepting new patients.

The best way to find a doctor that meets the criteria that you describe is a referral from a friend or the specialist that you liked.

 

[Txgoodoldboy]

What are the odds of encountering so many doctors and specialists and finding them to be "jerks or idiots"? I think every state has a registry of doctors through the health department where you can check board certification status and education. A lot of people find their doctors through word of mouth or searching for popular ones online. Don't dismiss female doctors because I find them to be more "motherly" and caring with patients.

I've had two female doctors. I was uneasy at first, but found them to be more caring and more willing to listen.

 

[winterknight]

We don't get a choice over here.

 

[dunno260]

Yeah, talk to the doctor you like and get recommendations from him. Tell him what you are looking for as well.

I know in my town every year they do a list of the top 10 primary care doctors in the area, so perhaps you can google to find if such a list is there.

Most of the information on how long a doctor has been practicing should be available through the state medical licensing board or something like that. I don't know of any specialized source or place to rate doctors. Might not be that useful anyways, because what people want is very different.

Ask people you know as well. I spent a month shadowing doctors in a hospital as well as 4 years volunteering in a free medical clinic. Most of the physicians are good and and get along well with patients. The biggest problem people have with their physicians in my experience has been the time the doctor spends with a patient. Its interesting to see medicine from the other side and you really begin to understand why physicians are the way they are.

Another great person to talk to is your pharmacist. My mom is one, and she has a good idea about the quality of a large number of doctors because of comments made by their patients when they get a prescription filled (and she also gets to judge competence somewhat that way). She does mail order work now so has lost touch with that, but when she was at the large chain grocery store, she was hooked in well.

And I would try to not limit yourself if you get a strong recommendation for a female doctor. Give it a chance to just see how it goes.

 

[Luka]

Well, I always see a female dr. I feel they pay more attention and are smarter than the male drs ive been too. Thats just a personal prefrance though......

 

[secondmonkey]

What are the odds of encountering so many doctors and specialists and finding them to be "jerks or idiots"?

Honestly, it has astounded me how so many of these guys got medical licenses and opened up practices being as mean, stupid, or overpriced as they are. Mostly they treat me like it's an assembly line, and try to get me out of their office as quickly as possible. I should get at least a solid hour with the doc after spending over $200 to see him! One of the specialists was so rude to me I just got up and left half way through our appointment, and I refuse to pay the bill.

Don't dismiss female doctors because I find them to be more "motherly" and caring with patients.

That may be true, but many of my problems revolve around my testicals...which I'd rather not have a woman playing with.

There is a really old guy at my pharmacy that seems to know what he's doing, I'll ask him.