20 How to Fire Your Doctor and Find the Right Provider for You 1. Talk first. Good communication is essential in any relationship. If you have difficulty communicating your needs, you may encounter the same situation with the next doctor you choose. So first try to discuss your concerns with your doctor and see if your issues can be resolved. If they can’t, or if your doctor is not receptive to your input, then it’s time to look elsewhere for the care you need. 2. Identify what you need in a doctor. Before you begin your search, figure out exactly what you’re looking for in a doctor. How far are you willing to travel? Do they need to be on your insurance network?What office hours are necessary foryou? Is there a specialty or certification the doctor should have? Are you more comfortable with a provider of your own gender? Make a list of all your requirements. 3. Compare. Do your homework on the doctors in your area. Compare your insurance plan’s list of providers in that specialty to your list of requirements. Create a short-list of doctors that meet your requirements, then look them up online. Read patients’ reviews. Select your top candidates. 4. Make some calls. Call the offices of your top candidates to ask some basic questions. Verify that they are taking new patients and accept your insurance. Ask how long it typically takes to get an appointment as a new patient, and how long for an existing patient. You may also choose to ask about their billing policies, or how they handle prescription refills, referrals, and after-hours concerns. Asking these questions will not only give you the answers, but give you important insight into how helpful and caring the office staff will be when you have concerns as a patient. 5. Make your selection. Once you’ve spoken to your top candidates’ offices, make your selection based on all the information you have found. For a primary care provider, make sure to contact your insurance company to make the change official. For a specialist, find out if you need a referral from your primary care provider or a preauthorization from your insurance. 6. Make an appointment. Book an appointment before you need one, if possible. When making the appointment, ask whether they will help you request the transfer of your medical records at the time of the appointment, or whether you need to get them from your previous provider and bring them to the first visit. Also ask if there are any other documents you should bring. 7. Get acquainted. Use your first appointment as an opportunity to get to know the new doctor and bring them up to speed on your condition. You can choose to tell them why you left your old doctor, but if you do so, keep in mind that medical communities are often small – the doctors may know one another – so be careful to state your concerns objectively and calmly. If you choose not to disclose why you left the previous doctor, you can simply say that you felt from the information you gathered that the new doctor would be a better fit for your circumstances. 8. Assess your experience. Did you feel comfortable with the new provider? Was the office staff helpful and polite? Was your wait time reasonable? Were your questions answered and your concerns taken seriously? If you were happy with the visit, congratulations! You have found your new doctor. If you feel this provider does not meet your needs, you can go back to the top candidates you identified in step 4 and try again.