Finding a Doctor When You’re Sick
Not feeling well? Sickness lasting longer than it should? You need to see a doctor, and quick.
Most of us resist visiting the doctor for some reason or another. It could be that we think it’ll diminish our toughness. Another reason is the cost of a doctor visit. Finally, some people just don’t want to experience the sterility of a hospital or doctor’s office. If you’re sick, though, you need to overcome these fears and forge ahead. So How do you go about finding a doctor near you?
- Consult your health insurance company - This should always be your first step. If your doctor is not included on your insurance plan, you may end up paying a lot of money. How do you consult? Today, many insurers provide online access to a database of their doctors. For example, if you’re a Blue Cross Blue Shield customer, you can visit http://www.bcbs.com and click on find a doctor. It will prompt you for your zipcode, so enter it and you should find doctors near you. Local insurers may be able to give you advice over the phone easily or provide you with a paper listing of all doctors included on the plan.
- Call ahead - After you’ve located a couple of offices close to you, call ahead and ask a few questions. You might want to ask questions like:
- Are you still a participating member of (insert health insurance company here)?
- What are your office hours?
- Do you have any openings today or tomorrow?
- What is your main area of practice?
After obtaining the answers to these questions, you’ll be in a good shape to narrow down your choices.
- Get a map or directions - I like to use MapQuest to get all my directions when I’m not sure where I’m going. You may prefer a different provider, but make sure you know where you’re going. You don’t want to be driving around lost while you feel like junk.
Once you get to the doctor, make sure he understands how you feel. Describe your systems as accurately as you can, and ask him lots of questions about his diagnosis. If there is no diagnosis, continue to pester him until you get one. If he provides medicine or advice, take it. Doctors generally know what they’re talking about, so you can listen to them regarding your body.