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Adults
Doctor Visits, Women
3/4/2013 11:19:33 AM
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http://healthfinder.gov/HealthTopics/Category/doctor-visits/regular-check-ups/choosing-a-doctor-quick-tips
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Get Your Well-Woman Visit Every Year
http://healthfinder.gov/HealthTopics/Category/everyday-healthy-living/sexual-health/get-your-well-woman-visit-every-year
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Men: Take Charge of Your Health
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Take Charge of Your Health Care
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https://extapps.ama-assn.org/doctorfinder/recaptcha.jsp
https://extapps.ama-assn.org/doctorfinder/recaptcha.jsp
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http://www.ahrq.gov/consumer/cc/cc071508.htm
http://www.ahrq.gov/consumer/cc/cc071508.htm
<p>When you choose a doctor for yourself or a loved one, make sure to choose a primary care doctor you can trust. A primary care doctor can:</p><ul><li>Help you make important decisions, like which screening tests and shots to get</li><li>Treat many health problems</li><li>Refer you to a specialist when you need more help with a specific health issue</li></ul><p>When you are choosing a doctor, look for someone who:</p><ul><li>Treats you with respect</li><li>Listens to your opinions and concerns</li><li>Encourages you to ask questions</li><li>Explains things in ways you can understand</li></ul><p>When you and your doctor work together as a team, you’ll get better health care. Try the following tips to find a doctor who’s right for you.</p><h2>Ask for recommendations from people you know.</h2><p>Getting a reference from someone you know and trust is a great way to find a doctor.</p><ul><li>Ask friends, family members, neighbors, or coworkers if they have a doctor they like.</li><li>If you are looking for a new doctor because yours is retiring or moving, ask your current doctor for a recommendation.</li></ul><h2>Check with your insurance company.</h2><p>If you have health insurance, you may need to choose from a network of doctors they’ve selected. Some plans may let you choose a doctor outside the network if you pay a bigger share of your health care costs.</p><ul><li>Call your insurance company and ask for a list of local doctors who take your insurance plan.</li><li>See if your insurance company has a Web site you can use to search for a local doctor who accepts your plan.</li></ul><p>If you don’t have health insurance, you’ll have to pay for health care out of pocket, which can be very expensive. For help finding insurance, visit <a href="http://finder.healthcare.gov" >http://finder.healthcare.gov</a>.</p><h2>Call your top choices.</h2><p>Once you have a few doctors in mind, call their offices to learn more about them. The answers to the following questions may help you make a decision:</p><ul><li>Is the doctor taking new patients?</li><li>How long will it take to get an appointment?</li><li>How long do appointments usually last?</li><li>Is the doctor part of a group practice? Who are the other doctors?</li><li>Who will see you if the doctor isn’t available?</li><li>Which hospital does the doctor use?</li><li>Can you get lab work and x-rays done in the office?</li><li>What is the office’s cancellation policy?</li><li>If you have a medical condition, does the doctor have experience treating it?</li><li>If you are more comfortable speaking to a doctor in a language besides English, is there a doctor or nurse who speaks that language?</li><li>Does the doctor offer evening or weekend appointments?</li></ul><h2>Ask yourself these questions after the first appointment.</h2><p>Did the doctor and office staff:</p><ul><li>Make you feel comfortable during your appointment</li><li>Spend enough time with you</li><li>Give you a chance to ask questions</li><li>Answer your questions clearly</li></ul><p>If you answer “no” to any of these questions, you may want to keep looking.</p>
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