Health 101: How To Find The Perfect Doctor

Finding the right doctor for you is important. This person not only needs to be a qualified and experienced professional, but he or she also needs to be someone with whom you feel comfortable discussing your personal health concerns.

So how do you find this perfect doctor? Dr. Jessica Regnaert, a Banner Health physician practicing in Mesa, Arizona, has some practical tips to help patients with the search:

Do Your Research

Looking online for a doctor can be a great place start. With Banner Health's doctor profiles, you not only get to see a doctor's training, education and certifications, but you also learn about his or her care philosophy.

"We have online profiles with videos," says Dr Regnaert. "If you watch [a doctor's] profile video, with most of them you can see people's personalities coming through and see if that compliments your personality."

"Some people like a doctor who is more direct, some people like one that has better bedside manner," she notes. "It depends on your preferences."

Start Your Search For Dr. Right

Know Your Needs

Depending on your medical history, you might require a provider who specializes in a particular type of care or has experience treating patients with a history similar to your own. This information is listed clearly on each Banner Health doctor profile, allowing you to easily check whether their area of expertise matches your specific needs.

"The online profile also shows where each doctor got all of their education, and that can be helpful also," says Dr. Regnaert. Certain health conditions might call for a doctor with specialized training or certifications, both of which could be listed as part of his or her education.

Ask Questions

During your initial meeting with a new doctor, get to know more about how his or her practice operates by asking questions. Some key things to ask include:

• How can you reach the doctor in an emergency?
• Are appointments always necessary, or will the doctor or a nurse answer routine questions online or over the phone?
• Who provides care for patients in the doctor's absence?
• At what hospitals does the doctor have privileges?

Know Communication Is Key

"Really, the best thing is a doctor that you feel that you can communicate well with," says Dr. Regnaert. "Because obviously, your doctor can't take good care of you if you don't feel comfortable enough to share what's going on."

Find Your Perfect Doctor At Banner Health

More From Banner Health:

• How To Find Dr. Right
  
• 8 Tips For Communicating Well With Your Healthcare Provider
  
• How To Take Part In Every Medical Decision
  

First Photo Credit: Rido/Shutterstock