Can you guess the third leading cause of death in America?
We’ll give you a clue, it has to do with a type of accident. You might be guessing car accidents or workplace mishaps. Yet, the answer to this riddle is medical malpractice. Studies show medical malpractice is the third leading cause of death in America.
Every year 225,000 patients die from surgical errors and incorrect dosages of medication. Improperly diagnosing conditions is another factor contributing to each year’s casualties.
Choosing a doctor who cares is vital to building a long and happy life. That’s why it’s so important you have someone in your corner you can trust your life with.
Are you looking into changing doctors, but don’t know where to begin? Read on to learn about the 3 things you should consider before making the switch.
Table of Contents
Before Choosing a Doctor
Before you start searching for doctors, get your information in order. Here’s a short list of the things you’ll need.
- The location you want the doctor in
- Type of insurance you carry
- Services you’ll need
Everyone sees a doctor for different personal reasons. Are you going to improve your bone and joint health? Or are you looking for more routine type of health care procedures, like an annual physical?
Have your needs at the forefront of your mind as you call offices. You’ll also need to consider your method of transportation. If you’ll be relying on public transports, make sure the office is within reasonable walking distance.
Personal Information About the Doctor
After gathering your personal information, you need to decide what your preferences are. Here’s a short list of personal preferences to consider.
- Languages they speak
- Years in practice
- Gender Preference
Gender can be one of the biggest deciding factors when switching doctors. In the year 2017, more women doctors enrolled in medical school than men. If you prefer a woman over a man or vice versa, you’ll have plenty of room for choosing.
Yet, keep in mind, if the doctor’s away, you could see someone else in their group. Ask the doctors you call, who will be seeing you if they’re out of the office. If you only want to work with a woman, make sure the person covering will be of female gender.
Know How They Operate
Finally, you’ll need to know if the doctor’s office your considering is accepting new patients. Here are a few questions to ask regarding the office’s new patient procedures.
- Will they perform labs in-house?
- Are they currently accepting new patients?
- How do they process claims?
Many wonderful outpatient facilities, like United Medical, can perform a wide range of procedures at the facility. Yet, this doesn’t always mean they’ll be processing the insurance claim in-house.
Sometimes, offices require patients to pay and process the insurance claims themselves. Before you make your appointment, make sure you clearly understand how they’ll be handling your specific insurance claim.
Exploring Natural Remedies
Now you are ready to begin choosing a doctor. Regularly seeing a primary doctor is one of the best ways to invest in your health.
Here at The Health Supplement Review, we understand how complex healthcare can be. It’s not all about what medicines your taking, or what doctor your seeing. Instead, healthcare is an extremely personal experience, where everyone has their own individual goals.
Are you interested in learning about holistic remedies for cardiovascular health or weight loss? If you want to know more about natural ways to improve your health, we can help! Check out our latest article, 5 important reasons you should see a naturopathic doctor.
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