Vim & Vigor - Summer 2019 - UVA - 41

Step One:
Use the Internet

You can start your search by
visiting the website of a trusted hospital system or medical network to
look for providers near you. Then plug
those names into sites like Zocdoc and
Yelp, which contain multitudes of doctor reviews.
Darien is a proponent of reviews
but cautions that patients should
read them carefully.
"Compare the feedback on all of
these sites," Darien says, "because if
in one place a doctor is all five stars
and another place that doctor is two
stars, there's something off." That disparity in ratings would prompt Darien
to either find a different doctor or do
additional digging online to get a more
complete story.

Step Two:
Tap Your Circle

Ask your friends, family
members and co-workers for recommendations. Find a communityoriented social media group and ask
for input there. If you need a specialist
for a specific diagnosis, find an online
advocacy group or patient group
focused on that injury, illness or disease and start asking questions. "Your
community is a powerful resource,"
Darien says. "Use it."

Step Three:
Ask Good
Questions

When you ask for recommendations,
ask about the things that matter to
you most. Does the doctor take time
to answer questions during an office
visit, or is she pushing her patients out
the door? How long might you wait
for an appointment if you need one?

Darien likes to ask this question when
she is looking for a new doctor: "What
is my access to that physician, and
how quickly will they call me back if I
call with a medical issue?"

Step Four:
Call the Office

Once you've settled on
a few possible doctors, call their
offices. Make sure that they accept
your insurance and that they can get
you an appointment when you want
one. Ask if they have a nurse practitioner on staff to field patient phone
calls or see patients who need sameday appointments.
"Look at how they treat you when
you call on the telephone," Darien
says. "Are they listening to you? Are
they making sure you go in prepared
for the visit? The front desk is a really
important contact that should give
you a sense of what the culture of the
practice is."

Step Five:
Make a Choice

Don't be afraid to ask tough
questions of your doctor once
you've chosen her: Why is she recommending one treatment plan
instead of another? Might there be
another medication that would work
better? Are nonpharmacological
options available?
You should leave your appointment
feeling confident in your care and
comfortable with the answers you
received, Darien says. If you didn't,
or if the doctor-patient relationship
simply isn't working for you, don't be
afraid to start searching for a new
doctor again or to ask to see a different doctor in that practice. ■

LIVING WITH
DIABETES
MADE EASIER
Do you have type 1 diabetes or
type 2 diabetes that requires you
to take insulin? Do you like using
technology to help manage your
chronic disease? If so, you now have
easier access to the support you
need. UVA Endocrinology Pantops in
Charlottesville is among just a handful of similar clinics in the U.S.
Here, you'll find a specialized team
of endocrinology doctors, a nurse
practitioner, a diabetes educator
and support staff that focuses on
identifying the right technology and
educating patients on strategies to
optimize available therapies, such
as insulin pumps and continuous
glucose monitors. Our nurse practitioner works with insurance providers to help patients receive diabetes
management devices in several
days rather than weeks or months.
You'll also get hands-on, individualized training on using technology
to help improve your glucose control and make living with diabetes
easier. Learn more at uvahealth.com/
diabetes-pantops.

TOOL

How to Prepare
for a Doctor Visit
The National Institute on Aging
has helpful resources for people
of any age who want to make
the most out of a healthcare
appointment. Visit nia.nih.gov/
health/how-prepare-doctorsappointment.

SUMME R 2019

http://www.uvahealth.com/diabetes-pantops http://www.uvahealth.com/diabetes-pantops http://nia.nih.gov/health/how-prepare-doctors-appointment http://nia.nih.gov/health/how-prepare-doctors-appointment http://nia.nih.gov/health/how-prepare-doctors-appointment

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