Here are a variety of items for you to consider when choosing a doctor.
Interests
- Special medical interests – what kind of patients does
the doctor usually see?
- What hospital(s) is your physician affiliated with?
Education and Board Certification
- Graduate of which medical school
- Specialty training locations
- Board-certified in his/her specialty
- Board-certified and/or fellow of the board
Personality
- Warm
- Concerned
- Listens
- Interested
- Willing to explain
- Answers questions
Manner
- Explains procedures
- Asks and answers questions
- Takes notes
- Has necessary supplies and equipment
- Takes full history at first visit
How Office is Run
- Friendly staff
- Office environment feels cheerful and comfortable
- Office is clean and neat
- Amount of time to plan for initial and routine visits
- How soon are appointments available (one week, one month)
- Appointments are met on time or explanations are given for the delay
- Doctor takes calls
- Doctor returns calls the same day
- Doctor will also answer questions via e-mail
Practice Details
- Provider on your health plan
- After-hours care arrangements
- Prescription refill policies
- Vacation coverage arrangements
- Urgent care arrangements when I am sick or have an emergency
- Payment arrangements
- Willing to discuss fees and insurance coverage
- Takes Medicare/Medicaid patients
- Office is conveniently located
- Convenient office hours
Kind of Practice
- Multispecialty group
- Hospital-based office
- Single-specialty group
- Loose association with other physicians
- Partner physicians
- Single physician practice
Hospital Affiliation
- University or medical school hospital
(Full-time or part-time staff member)
- On teaching staff of medical school
- Staff member, community hospital
- Admitting privileges at what hospitals
- No hospital affiliation (ask for reason)
- Will visit/examine me when I am hospitalized
For help in finding an OSU doctor, contact our physician referral service at (614) 293-5123 or 1-800-293-5123.
