How To Choose A Good Doctor

Choosing a good doctor can be a daunting and scary task for many people. We all want our health to be in the hands of good doctors, nurses and caretakers. That’s why it is important to carefully choose a healthcare system and doctor.

For some, a good doctor can be the difference between life and death. With such large healthcare systems in place in the U.S., it is easy for mistakes to go undetected. Sadly, many people die from preventable hospital errors. The number of deaths is at a shocking 400,000 people a year and is the 3rdhighest cause of death in the U.S., with only heart disease and cancer claiming more lives.

Preventing hospital injuries starts with choosing a good doctor and hospital system. Use the following tips to find a doctor you can trust:

• Start With Other Healthcare Professionals: If you know of or have contacts with healthcare professionals, start by asking for advice from these individuals. Doctors and nurses in your area are the best way to find reliable heath care for your needs.
• Talk to Friends: If you do not know of any healthcare professionals personally, it may be helpful to consult with friends and family about the doctors and healthcare systems they use for their medical needs. However, be aware that a doctor who is great for your friend may not be the perfect fit for you.
• Check Your Insurance Plan: Call your insurance company or use the search tool on its website to look for doctors in your insurance network. With the recent changes in healthcare law, doctors have been adding and dropping insurance plans more frequently than in the past. Make sure your insurance covers the doctor you want to see.
• Assess the Affiliated Hospital: Doctors are usually affiliated with certain hospitals and have privileges to admit patients to these hospitals. Before choosing a doctor, check out where they admit patients. Search the websites for these hospitals to be sure they will fit your needs in case you ever become in need of a hospital visit.
• Choose a Doctor with Board Certification: Choosing a doctor who is certified by the American Board of Medical Specialties is important because this means that the doctor earned a medical degree from an accredited medical school. Doctors who have ABMS certification have completed 3 to 7 years of medical school, have passed exams required by the Board, and must keep up to date with medical practices and procedures.
• Look for Signs of Misconduct: It is not uncommon for doctors to be sued once or twice in their time of practice, but anything more than this may be a sign of medical malpractice issues in the doctor’s or hospital’s practice. Research your doctors first to be sure there are not past or pending legal claims made against them.
• Don’t Overlook Customer Service: Did the doctor treat you respectfully when you called or visited the office? Were the reception staff and nurses friendly and helpful? First impressions may be able to indicate the way the medical professionals treat their patients. Choose a medical practice that makes you feel comfortable and welcomed.

More information about these tips and others can be found at ConsumerReports.org.

Taking the time to find a good doctor can be time consuming but well worth it in the long run. However, it is still possible that you or someone you know may suffer from injuries or even death due to negligence by a medical practitioner. If you feel that you have a medical malpractice claim, do not hesitate to call Goodman Acker P.C. at (248) 793-2010 to discuss your case free of charge and under no obligation.

For over 30 years, our Detroit medical malpractice attorneys have been helping injured patients and their families get the justice and compensation they deserve. These cases are quite complex and require the knowledge of a lawyer who not only has significant experience trying these cases but also the medical knowledge of how to prove a doctor was negligent. Do not try to handle a case yourself. Make the smart choice and call Goodman Acker P.C. today to get the help you need.