Page 152 - South Mississippi Living - June, 2016

the doctor is in
FINDING THE BEST
So how do you find the best doctor? Experts say you should take an active role in the process. Most medical needs can be satisfied locally, but should you or a loved one be diagnosed with a rare or complicated condition, you will have to do an exhaustive search to find a specialist qualified in the field.
Start with your primary care physician’s recommendation, but don’t stop there. The Internet has a wealth of information online about different conditions and the people who treat them. The Internet can also
spread misinformation, so it’s important that you
consult reputable websites. Two
reputable sites are www.
medlineplus. com, a
National Library of Medicine
website, which gives access to
thousands of medical articles; or www. nih.gov, which is
a clearinghouse of information about diseases and clinical
trials. Almost every disease has an official association or organization
that offers up-to-date information about treatments along with support networks of people who are willing to talk online about their experiences.
After you are satisfied that the doctor has a solid clinical reputation, you should evaluate his or her customer services, because they can affect your well being in a significant way.
Health care professionals are starting to understand that bedside manner has a lot to do with how patients fare in the long run.
A New Health System for the 21st Century national health care expert points out that most Americans who are ill suffer from common and chronic diseases such as heart disease, diabetes and asthma. These ailments require
a team approach — lots of doctors, therapists and health care settings
over a long period of time. A doctor who can’t or won’t communicate with patients about long-term care issues such as nutrition, exercise, therapy
and medicines will fail to provide safe, high-quality care.
Talk to people with your condition to find out which doctors are open and warm or rude and distant. Interview the doctors on your list, and don’t be afraid to ask them how many patients they’ve seen with your condition, how many surgeries they’ve performed and how many patients have died in surgery.
152 SOUTH MISSISSIPPI Living • June 2016
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