You might choose a family practitioner or an internist. Family practitioners provide health care to all family members, regardless of age. An internist is a doctor of adults. Some internists take additional training to become specialists; for example, cardiologists are internists who specialize in diseases of the heart. If you need more help finding names of doctors, contact your local medical society, local physician referral services, nearby medical schools, and university medical centers in your area.
How Do You Make an Informed Choice?
Once you have chosen two or three doctors, call their offices. The office staff often are a good source of information about the doctor's education and training, office policies, and payment procedures. You may want to set up an appointment to talk with a doctor. Make sure that he or she knows that you are trying to decide on a doctor. You may be charged for such a visit.
Board certification is one way to tell about a doctor's expertise. Doctors who are board certified have had training after medical school and have passed an exam certifying them as specialists in certain fields of medicine.
You may have a number of questions to ask the new doctor. What does the doctor think about preventive care for older patients? Does the doctor encourage patients to ask questions? Does the doctor involve patients in care decisions?
Why Is the First Doctor's Appointment So Important?
After choosing a doctor, make your first appointment. During this visit, the doctor will probably take a medical history, which will include questions about your current and past illnesses as well as any illnesses in members of your family. The doctor also will perform a physical examination. Be sure to bring your medical records (or have them sent) and a list of your current medicines, including those that you take without a prescription. If you haven't talked with the doctor beforehand, take time during this visit to ask any questions you have about the doctor and the practice.
After the appointment, ask yourself whether you feel comfortable with and have confidence in this doctor. For example, did you feel comfortable asking questions? Did you get answers that you understood? If you are not satisfied, schedule a visit with one of the other doctors on your list.
Once you have found a doctor you are happy with, your job is not finished. A good doctor/patient relationship is a partnership, with both you and your doctor working together to solve your medical problems and maintain your good health.