The IAA One Minute Blog

It's been bothering you for the past year, the feeling that you should really change your doctor. Make this the year that you find a physician that is perfect for you. Make this the year of the new doctor.

Signs That You Need a New Doctor

Like with any relationship, there are warning signs that it is time to end the relationship you have with your doctor. Here are some warning signs that your time together has come to an end:

• Dismissive: Your doctor dismisses your claim that something is wrong, instead of doing the extra work to look into the problem. The doctor also dismisses the research your bring in regarding your symptoms.
• Disrespectful: You feel like your doctor does not respect you and the questions and concerns you may have. Answering your questions and giving you the information you need goes hand-in-hand with diagnosing you in the first place.
• Feeling rushed: You feel like your doctor is rushing you through your examination. You should feel like you are their only patient because at that time, you are. This is the time they have to find out what is going on and how to help you.
  
• Timid: If you ever feel like your doctor lacks confidence in their practice and decisions, this is a warning sign. Confidence in a doctor is needed, and there is no way to accomplish this if the doctor does not have confidence in their own decisions.
• Uncaring: If you feel that your doctor does not know you at a personal level and care about you as an individual (not just as a patient) this is a warning sign. Knowing that your doctor knows who you are, even when your chart is not in their hand, is a very satisfying feeling that shows your doctor truly cares about you.
• Unresponsive: The doctor never returns your phone calls or emails.

Doctors are an important part of our lives. We rely on them to help tell us what is wrong and what we can do to fix it. We trust in their knowledge and that they have our best interests in mind.

Finding Dr. Right

People should find a doctor and establish a relationship while they are in good health, so they don't have to scramble when they are ill. Here are some steps to meeting your perfect (doctor) match:

1. Figure out what type of doctor you are looking for. Do you need a primary care physician or a specialist?
2. Figure out what blend of experience and personality traits are important to you. Are you looking for someone who is authoritative or nurturing?
3. Google is your friend: Use a doctor's website as an evaluation tool--how do they come off in print?
4. Set up an introductory phone call.
5. If you feel comfortable after the phone call, make an appointment. Make sure the problem you go in with is a small one; you can also go in with no problem at all. Make an appointment just to chat so you can feel your new doctor out.
   
6. Your doctor comes with an office staff; make sure that they make you feel comfortable as well.
   
7. Go with your gut:This is perhaps the most important step. It is perfectly ok to reject doctors simply because there's something that makes you feel ill at ease.
   

Remember, before you move on to a new doctor, you need to be sure that the medical practice is willing to take on new patients.

What IAA has to Say

Insurance Administrator of America believes your health is too important to play with. Finding a doctor that you feel comfortable with is important to your overall health. IAA is proud to offer Teladoc, a service that allows members to resolve their minor medical issues in a more affordable and convenient fashion. If you are deciding to make a move from one practice to another, Teladoc is a great option for minor problems. Remember, with IAA one call does it all.

Interested in reading more blog posts on New Year's resolutions? Click here.