Friday, August 6, 2010

Finding a Gynecologist - Doctor Searches Simplified

When it comes to finding the right gynecologist, doctor searches can be an experiment in frustration. For most women, a relationship with their ob/gyn is a personal and lifelong one that's difficult to duplicate.

However, when it becomes necessary to find a new physician as a result of a move, a doctor's retirement, or other extenuating circumstances, it can be difficult to figure out where to even start the search.

One of the best ways to find a new gynecologist is to simply ask for a reference from your doctor, or another trusted medical professional. Especially if you're relocating to another part of town and changing medical care providers for the sake of convenience, the doctors at your current practice will usually be able to make an educated recommendation on the type of physician whom you'd be most likely to form a positive relationship. If you're making an even bigger change such as moving to a new city or state, the process of finding a new gynecologist is likely to be a bit more difficult.

A good starting point is to conduct a search for qualified ob/gyns just by visiting the official website of the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists' Web site (acog.org).All you have to do is to enter your zip code, and the website will come up with potential matches in your area.

It's also a good idea to conduct a similar search of doctors that work with your health insurance provider.

Most insurers have a list of qualified doctors that accept that type of health insurance coverage and the list is often broken down by area and specialty. While only larger insurers will typically have a list of cooperating doctors available online, you can usually request this information by mail and have it in a few days.

The Internet is a huge resource for finding a new gynecologist, and will save you time by helping you narrow down your list to a few qualified candidates. If you're seriously considering a particular physician, do a Google search on him; you'll at least locate basic information and verify that he's a reputable member of the medical community.

Another great resource is those websites that offer physician reviews, offered confidentially by other patients. While these sites are a relatively new phenomenon, and many talented doctors are likely to not have reviews in the databases yet, they can be one more tool to guide you in the right direction.

By : A_Aaronson

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