| When choosing a doctor there's a lot to think about. Experience, specialty,
professional interests, health plans accepted and more. So we've put together
a list of questions to ask yourself when choosing a doctor.
Are you choosing a Primary Care Physician?
One of the best ways to make sure you're getting excellent health care is to
have a primary care physician (PCP) with whom you can build a long-term relationship-someone
who knows your medical background and understands what's important to you.
Traditionally PCPs fall into three specialties - Family Medicine (treating
patients of all ages), Internal Medicine (treating adult patients)
or Pediatrics (treating children from birth through adolescence).
Women will often choose a Gynecologist or Obstetrician (OB/GYN)
for their primary care needs.
When you have a physician you know and trust, you feel comfortable talking
about anything. And, all your basic care-including routine exams, preventive
care and treatment for illnesses or injuries- goes more smoothly and easily.
Your PCP also knows when it's best to refer you to a specialist.
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Do you want a doctor who is close to home or work?
Keep in mind that most doctors' appointments are scheduled during the day,
Monday through Friday. So you should consider where you are during these times.
At work? At home? Helping out at your children's school? You can use our search
feature to narrow your search by miles away from a specific zip code. You can
then further narrow your search by city.
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Search by either a male or female doctor
Discussing health issues and treatments can be a very personal experience.
It's important that you are comfortable talking to your doctor about any medical
situation that may come up. Deciding whether you prefer a male or female doctor
can ensure that you are as comfortable as possible. Our tool allows you to
narrow your search by your preference for either a male or female doctor.
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Would you like your doctor to speak a language other than or in addition
to english?
Let's face it, treatments and diagnoses can be pretty complex regardless of
what language they're in. That's why it's important for you and your doctor
to be able to communicate without any language barriers. Choosing a doctor
who speaks your native language will help ensure good communication. All of
the doctors on our web site speak english, so use the "language spoken"
criteria if you are interested in languages in addition to english.
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Does the doctor accept your health insurance?
To avoid unnecessary out-of-pocket health care expenses, you will want to find
a doctor who accepts your health insurance. While most of the doctors affiliated
with Sutter Health accept most major health plans, you will want to check to
make certain that yours is on the list. We strive to keep this information
as complete and current as possible, however it's a good idea to contact the
physician's office or your health plan Customer Service Department regarding
the specifics of your plan type and coverage. And if your PCP refers you to
a specialist, it's always a good idea to make sure that specialist accepts
your insurance.
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Do you want a doctor who specializes in a certain type of medicine?
The Sutter Health network consists of thousands of specialists in communities
across Northern California. Our search tool allows you to search by what "specialty"
a physician has.
When choosing a specialist, it is a good idea to make sure the physician is
covered under your insurance plan. If you have an HMO plan you will probably
need to obtain a referral or authorization from your primary care physician
(PCP) before scheduling a visit with a specialist.
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Is which hospital your doctor could refer to you important?
You may have a preference for a specific hospital that is close to either your
home or your work. Use our search feature find a doctor who is affiliated with
a specific hospital.
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