Changing doctors is something that needs to be done once in a while. This often occurs due to situational reasons such as moving house, but is sometimes the result of patient dissatisfaction. Whatever the reason for changing doctors, the process of finding a new doctor takes time, research, and attention.
Step
Part 1 of 3: Leaving the Old Doctor
Step 1. Know when to change doctors
Changing doctors is a serious decision. Sometimes the decision is beyond necessity. For example, if you or your doctor is moving, finding a new doctor is necessary. Unfortunately, sometimes the carelessness or poor performance of the current doctor can lead to a desire to change doctors. You should consider seeking a new doctor if any of the following occur:
- Doctors ignore your complaints, especially if you are elderly. Doctors often ignore the complaints of elderly patients only by blaming age.
- Doctors order patients to do tests or laboratory tests without explaining why.
- Doctors often ignore you and do not interact with you for a long time during a visit to the clinic.
- Doctors prescribe medications or order surgery and medical procedures without knowing your medical history or having little prior discussion.
- If your doctor has been involved in suspected medical malpractice, it is a good idea to change doctors.
- If you have a specific condition, and your doctor is not a specialist in that area, you may need to find a new doctor.
Step 2. Decide what to say to the doctor beforehand, if any
When changing doctors, you need to determine whether the reasons for leaving the doctor are important to explain. Decide what to say to the doctor beforehand, if any. When changing doctors, you need to determine if the reasons for leaving the doctor are important to explain.
- If you leave your doctor because you are dissatisfied with his services, it is okay to disclose this. Doctors want to keep their patients satisfied and their reputations maintained, so feedback can help improve their performance in the future. Yet many people are uncomfortable with face-to-face confrontation. You should consider writing a letter and sending it to the doctor's clinic.
- If you're not comfortable with your current doctor for whatever reason, it's acceptable to leave the doctor without an explanation. Doctors are usually busy and may not pay attention to missing patients, especially if you rarely come.
Step 3. Ask for referrals from previous doctors
Sometimes changing doctors is not the result of a bad relationship between doctor and patient. If you and your doctor have a good relationship, there is no better source for referrals to a new doctor than the previous one.
- Chances are your doctor has a colleague in the field so they can find a good replacement. Medical schools are vast communities and doctors often have national reference lists. Even if you change doctors because you have to move, your doctor can still help.
- If your doctor already knows your medical history, he or she can help you find a new doctor who can meet your particular needs. Usually, the doctor can recommend moving to a specialist if he has difficulty dealing with certain conditions that you are experiencing.
Part 2 of 3: Finding a Substitute
Step 1. Ask people around you
Seek advice from people you trust, such as friends and family members, when you start looking for a new doctor.
- Ask friends and family members a few questions. Ask if they know a good doctor, either by recommending their current doctor, how long it takes to make an appointment, and how much time the doctor usually spends with the patient.
- If you are looking for a health care specialist, such as an allergist or dermatologist, you can also ask them for advice on one of these. Specialist doctors can refer you to friends or colleagues.
Step 2. Do an online search
There are various ways to find a doctor through online searches. This is especially helpful if you are new to an area and don't know who to ask.
- The websites of the Indonesian Doctors Association (www.idionline.org) and medicastore.com have a doctor's information search tool. Meanwhile, on the website of The American Medical Association, not only can you find a doctor who specializes in a particular field in your area, but you can also get an understanding of the doctor's reputation. Information on medical malpractice records and overall patient satisfaction is also available.
- In the United States, you can also search online using an insurance provider's website. Insurance providers usually have a list of doctors who provide insurance and you can search by area of specialization and location.
- The Affordable Healthcare Act in the United States has a list of online physician providers. Other websites such as healthfinder.gov also have databases of doctors.
- Doctor ranking sites in the United States, such as Healthgrades, can sometimes be a tool for measuring physician competence. People often only comment if they like or dislike a doctor, so opinions are often unbalanced or result from momentary frustration.
Step 3. Schedule the first meeting
If you have found a doctor that you think is right, you should schedule an appointment as soon as possible. During the meeting, you can discuss your medical history and specific needs with the new doctor.
- If you schedule a meeting, prepare a number of questions. Ask how long it will take for the meeting, how long does the laboratory test and X-ray process take, whether the doctor has passed the Indonesian Doctor Competency Test and who will treat the patient if the doctor is out of town.
- You may be asked to arrive 15-20 minutes early to fill out a form. Make sure you have your full medical history before coming and have a list of all current medications and doses. You will also be asked about any drug allergies, or serious drug reactions, so make sure you have this information as well.
- The doctor will ask about your family medical history. Perform a mental health evaluation before progressing to diseases or disorders, such as cancer and heart attacks, in the family history.
Step 4. Evaluate your experience
After the first appointment, you need to consider whether this doctor is right for you. If not, you can continue to look elsewhere.
- Be honest with yourself. Are you comfortable in the doctor's clinic? Are new doctors repeating mistakes made by old doctors? You certainly don't want to change doctors and end up with the same problem. If you are not satisfied with your experience, keep looking.
- Can a new doctor help you with a specific medical problem? If the new doctor's area of expertise doesn't suit your situation, you need to keep looking.
- Was the doctor polite and respectful during your visit? Bad behavior is the reason many people change doctors. Study your conversation with the new doctor and find out if anything he said made you uncomfortable or hurt your feelings. Again, you certainly don't want to repeat the same problem.
Part 3 of 3: Managing Transitions
Step 1. Make sure the new doctor accepts your insurance
Health care is very expensive without insurance. Make sure your doctor accepts your insurance plan.
- You can call the clinic and ask questions or check online. Often you can find a doctor by working with your insurance company. This is a great way to make sure your insurance is acceptable.
- If you have questions about insurance and its payments, ask the insurance company for clarification before proceeding. You certainly don't want to receive an unexpectedly large bill a month after your first visit.
Step 2. Request that your medical record be forwarded
Your medical record needs to be passed on to the new doctor. This can be done in various ways.
- You can request a copy of your medical records over the phone, and in the United States, some clinics have a Patient Portal website that allows you to access medical records online. Medical records can be sent directly to you and then taken to a new doctor. Be sure to ask for information such as lab results, X-rays, and CAT or MRI scans.
- If you are being referred to a specialist, consultation notes can help the new doctor understand your condition. Even if this is legally owned by your doctor, you are welcome to copy it. You can request a copy of this when requesting a medical record.
- You can request medical records directly at the front of the doctor's clinic. You may need to pay for printing, but in the United States the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (the law that protects workers and their families' health insurance when changing jobs or losing jobs) means you're only charged a fee-based rate. In general, if the tariff is charged, then the amount is around Rp. 200 thousand. If you have a long medical record, you will need to pay more.
Step 3. Get ready
Preparing your own patient history can help smooth the transition. You also have to make sure there is no difference in costs in insurance. You don't want the doctor to leave you during an emergency or run out of prescriptions and have no one to prepare prescription drugs.
- Make sure you get prescription medication for any prescriptions you have with your old doctor before looking for a new one. This way, you won't run out of medicine if the doctor's search is long and the prescription has expired.
- Make a list of existing medical histories, including medications, allergies, and illnesses that run in the family, and give a copy to the new doctor. New patient forms are often short and difficult to include all important information. The more the doctor knows about you, the better.
Tips
- Friends and family members can help choose a new doctor by providing a personal assessment of their doctor.
- If you are still a student, you can get a doctor through the medical school. But make sure your faculty has a good reputation in the medical community before seeking a doctor at university.
Warning
- Although rare, there are cases of doctors trying to manipulate patients into being hospitalized by withholding medical records. Understand, you have legal rights to your medical records.
- Do some research. You certainly don't want to get a doctor who has a bad reputation. Be wary of allegations of medical malpractice and try to gain an understanding of your new doctor's reputation.
