We all want high-quality health care, but it's hard to know how to choose. There are many things to consider, including

• What your insurance covers
• Whether a health care provider or service is accredited
• The location of a service
• Hours that the service is available
• Whether you like a health care provider's personality

On this page you'll find information to help you choose a health care provider or service.

Finding a main doctor (often called your primary doctor or primary care doctor) who you feel comfortable talking to is the first step in good communication. How well you and your doctor talk to each other is one of the most important steps to getting good health care. This doctor gets to know you and what your health is normally like. He or she can help you make medical decisions that suit your values and daily habits and can keep in touch with the other medical specialists and healthcare providers you may need.

Taking an active role in your health care puts the responsibility for good communication on both you and your doctor. This means asking questions if the doctor's explanations or instructions are unclear, bringing up problems even if the doctor doesn't ask, and letting the doctor know if you have concerns about a particular treatment or change in your daily life.

If you don’t have a primary doctor or are not at ease with the one you currently see, now may be the time to find a new doctor. Whether you just moved to a new city, changed insurance providers, or had a bad experience with your doctor or medical staff, it is worthwhile to spend time finding a doctor you can trust.

People sometimes hesitate to change doctors because they worry about hurting their doctor’s feelings. But doctors understand that different people have different needs. They know it is important for everyone to have a doctor with whom they are comfortable.

Primary care physicians frequently are family practitioners, internists, or geriatricians. A geriatrician is a doctor who specializes in older people, but family practitioners and internists may also have a lot of experience with older patients. Here are some suggestions that can help you find a doctor who meets your needs.

Decide what you are looking for in a doctor

A good first step is to make a list of qualities that matter to you. Do you care if your doctor is a man or a woman? Is it important that your doctor has evening office hours, is associated with a specific hospital or medical center, or speaks your language? Do you prefer a doctor who has an individual practice or one who is part of a group so you can see one of your doctor’s partners if your doctor is not available? After you have made your list, go back over it and decide which qualities are most important and which are nice, but not essential.

Make a list of several possible doctors

Once you have a general sense of what you are looking for, ask friends and relatives, medical specialists, and other health professionals for the names of doctors with whom they have had good experiences. Rather than just getting a name, ask about the person’s experiences. For example, say: “What do you like about Dr. Smith?” and “Does this doctor take time to answer questions?” A doctor whose name comes up often may be a strong possibility.

If you belong to a managed care plan — a health maintenance organization (HMO) or preferred provider organization (PPO) — you may be required to choose a doctor in the plan or else you may have to pay extra to see a doctor outside the network. Most managed care plans will provide information on their doctors’ backgrounds and credentials. Some plans have websites with lists of participating doctors from which you can choose.

It may be helpful to develop a list of a few names you can choose from. As you find out more about the doctors on this list, you may rule out some of them. In some cases, a doctor may not be taking new patients and you may have to make another choice.

Gather information from the web

The American Medical Association’s Doctor Finder website and the American Board of Medical Specialties’ Certification Matters database can help you find doctors in your area. These websites don’t recommend individual doctors, but they do provide a list of doctors you may want to consider. MedlinePlus, a website from the National Library of Medicine at NIH, has a comprehensive list of directories, which may also be helpful. For a list of doctors who participate in Medicare, visit the Medicare.gov Physician Compare tool.

Don’t forget to call your local or State medical society to check if complaints have been filed against any of the doctors you are considering.

Collect information about the doctors you are considering

Once you have narrowed your list to two or three doctors, call their offices. The office staff is a good source of information about the doctor’s education and qualifications, office policies, and payment procedures. Pay attention to the office staff — you will have to communicate with them often!

You may want to set up an appointment to meet and talk with a doctor you are considering. He or she is likely to charge you for such a visit. After the appointment, ask yourself if this doctor is a person with whom you could work well. If you are not satisfied, schedule a visit with one of your other candidates.

When learning about a doctor, consider asking questions like:

• Do you have many older patients?
• How do you feel about involving my family in care decisions?
• Can I call or email you or your staff when I have questions? Do you charge for telephone or email time?
• What telehealth services do you offer?
• What are your thoughts about complementary or alternative treatments, such as...?

Choose a doctor

When making a decision about which doctor to choose, you might want to ask yourself questions like:

• Did the doctor give me a chance to ask questions?
• Was the doctor really listening to me?
• Could I understand what the doctor was saying? Was I comfortable asking him or her to say it again?

Once you’ve chosen a doctor, make your first actual care appointment. This visit may include a medical history and a physical exam. Be sure to bring your medical records, or have them sent from your former doctor. Bring a list of your current medicines or put the medicines in a bag and take them with you. If you haven’t already met the doctor, ask for extra time during this visit to ask any questions you have about the doctor or the practice.

There are many reasons why you might be looking for a new doctor. Maybe you've moved to another city, or perhaps your doctor is retiring. If you need a new doctor, these questions should help you find one who is right for you. Pick the questions that fit your situation the best.

Basics

1. Is the doctor taking new patients?
2. Is the doctor a preferred provider under my insurance plan?
3. Does the doctor accept Medicare?

Determining a Doctor's Qualifications and Background

1. Is the doctor board certified? In what field?
2. Is the age, sex, race, or religion of the doctor important to me?
3. Will language be an obstacle to communication? Is there someone in the office who speaks my language?
4. Do I prefer a group practice or an individual doctor?
5. Does it matter which hospital the doctor admits patients to?

Location of the Doctor's Office

1. Is the location of the doctor’s office important? How far am I willing to travel to see the doctor?
2. Is there parking? What does it cost? Is the office on a bus or subway line?
3. Does the building have an elevator? What about ramps for a wheelchair or walker?

Know the Doctor's Office Policies

1. What days/hours does the doctor see patients?
2. Are there times set aside for the doctor to take phone calls? Does the doctor accept emailed questions? Is there a charge for this service?
3. Does the doctor ever make house calls?
4. How far in advance do I have to make appointments?
5. What’s the process for urgent care? How do I reach the doctor in an emergency?
6. Who takes care of patients after hours or when the doctor is away?

If you’re looking for a complementary health practitioner to help treat a medical problem, it is important to be as careful and thorough in your search as you are when looking for conventional care.

Here are some tips to help you in your search:

1. If you need names of practitioners in your area, first check with your doctor or other health care provider. A nearby hospital or medical school, professional organizations, state regulatory agencies or licensing boards, or even your health insurance provider may be helpful. Unfortunately, the National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health (NCCIH) cannot refer you to practitioners.

2. Find out as much as you can about any potential practitioner, including education, training, licensing, and certifications. The credentials required for complementary health practitioners vary tremendously from state to state and from discipline to discipline.

   Once you have found a possible practitioner, here are some tips about deciding whether he or she is right for you:

3. Find out whether the practitioner is willing to work together with your conventional health care providers. For safe, coordinated care, it’s important for all of the professionals involved in your health to communicate and cooperate.

4. Explain all of your health conditions to the practitioner, and find out about the practitioner’s training and experience in working with people who have your conditions. Choose a practitioner who understands how to work with people with your specific needs, even if general well-being is your goal. And, remember that health conditions can affect the safety of complementary approaches; for example, if you have glaucoma, some yoga poses may not be safe for you.

5. Don’t assume that your health insurance will cover the practitioner’s services. Contact your health insurance provider and ask. Insurance plans differ greatly in what complementary health approaches they cover, and even if they cover a particular approach, restrictions may apply.

6. Tell all your health care providers about the complementary approaches you use and about all practitioners who are treating you. Keeping your health care providers fully informed helps you to stay in control and effectively manage your health.

For many people, finding a doctor who is knowledgeable about osteoporosis can be difficult. There is no physician specialty dedicated solely to osteoporosis, nor is there a board certification program for physicians who treat the disease. A variety of medical specialists treat people with osteoporosis, including internists, gynecologists, family doctors, endocrinologists, rheumatologists, physiatrists, orthopaedists, and geriatricians.

There are a number of ways to find a doctor who treats osteoporosis patients. If you have a primary care or family doctor, discuss your concerns with him or her. Your doctor may treat the disease or be able to refer you to an osteoporosis specialist.

If you are enrolled in a health maintenance organization (HMO) or a managed care health plan, consult your assigned doctor about osteoporosis. This doctor should be able to give you an appropriate referral.

If you do not have a personal doctor or if your doctor cannot help, contact your nearest university hospital or academic health center and ask for the department that cares for patients with osteoporosis. The department will vary from institution to institution. For example, in some facilities, the department of endocrinology or metabolic bone disease treats osteoporosis patients. In other medical centers, the appropriate department may be rheumatology, orthopaedics, or gynecology. Some hospitals have a separate osteoporosis program or women’s clinic that treats patients with osteoporosis.

Once you have identified a doctor, you may wish to ask whether the doctor has specialized training in osteoporosis, how much of the practice is dedicated to osteoporosis, and whether he or she has access to bone density testing.

Your own primary care doctor –whether an internist, orthopaedist, or gynecologist – is often the best person to treat you because she or he knows your medical history, your lifestyle, and your special needs.

Medical specialists who treat osteoporosis

After an initial assessment, it may be necessary to see an endocrinologist, a rheumatologist, or another specialist to rule out the possibility of an underlying disease that may contribute to osteoporosis:

Endocrinologists treat the endocrine system, which comprises the glands and hormones that help control the body’s metabolic activity. In addition to osteoporosis, endocrinologists treat diabetes and diseases of the thyroid and pituitary glands.

Rheumatologists diagnose and treat diseases of the bones, joints, muscles and tendons, including arthritis and collagen diseases.

Family doctors have a broad range of training that includes internal medicine, gynecology, and pediatrics. They place special emphasis on caring for an individual or family on a long-term, continuing basis.

Geriatricians are family doctors or internists who have received additional training on the aging process and the conditions and diseases that often occur among the elderly, including incontinence, falls, and dementia. Geriatricians often care for patients in nursing homes, in patients’ homes, or in office or hospital settings.

Gynecologists diagnose and treat conditions of the female reproductive system and associated disorders. They often serve as primary care doctors for women and follow their patients’ reproductive health over time.

Internists are trained in general internal medicine. They diagnose and treat many diseases. Internists provide long-term comprehensive care in the hospital and office, have expertise in many areas, and often act as consultants to other specialists.

Orthopaedic surgeons are doctors trained in the care of patients with musculoskeletal conditions, such as congenital skeletal malformations, bone fractures and infections, and metabolic problems.

Physiatrists are doctors who specialize in physical medicine and rehabilitation. They evaluate and treat patients with impairments, disabilities, or pain arising from various medical problems, including bone fractures. Physiatrists focus on restoring the physical, psychological, social, and vocational functioning of the individual.

When you choose a primary care doctor for yourself or a loved one, make sure to choose a doctor you can trust. A primary care doctor can:

• Help you stay healthy by recommending preventive services, like screening tests and shots
• Treat many health problems — including physical and mental health issues
• Refer you to a specialist when you need more help with a specific health issue

When you and your doctor work together as a team, you’ll get better health care. Look for a doctor who:

• Treats you with respect
• Listens to your opinions and concerns
• Encourages you to ask questions
• Explains things in ways you understand

Try the following tips to find a doctor who’s right for you.

Ask for recommendations from people you know.

Getting a reference from someone you know and trust is a great way to find a doctor.

• Ask friends, family members, neighbors, or coworkers if they have a doctor they like.
• If you are looking for a new doctor because yours is retiring or moving, ask your current doctor for a recommendation.

Check with your insurance company.

If you have health insurance, you may need to choose from a list of doctors in your plan's network (doctors that take your insurance plan). Some insurance plans may let you choose a doctor outside the network if you pay more of the cost.

• Call your insurance company and ask for a list of doctors near you who take your insurance plan – or use the insurance company’s website to search for a doctor.
• Once you've checked with your insurance company, call the doctor’s office, too. Ask them to confirm that they take your specific health insurance plan.

If you don’t have health insurance, you’ll have to pay for health care out of pocket (on your own). This can be very expensive.

Learn more about your top choices.

Make a list of the doctors you're interested in. Be sure to think about how easy or difficult it will be to travel to an appointment.

Call their offices to learn more about them. The answers to the following questions may help you make the best decision.

Questions about the doctor:

• Is the doctor taking new patients?
• Is the doctor part of a group practice? If so, who are the other doctors that might sometimes see or help treat you?
• Who will see you if your doctor isn’t available?
• Which hospital does the doctor use?
• If you have a medical condition, does the doctor have experience treating it?
• Does the doctor have special training or certifications?

Questions about the office:

• Do they offer evening or weekend appointments?
• What is the cancellation policy?
• How long will it take to get an appointment?
• How long do appointments usually last?
• Can you get lab work and x-rays done in the office?
• If you're more comfortable speaking in a language besides English, is there a doctor or nurse who speaks that language?

Think about your experience after the first visit.

Did the doctor and office staff...

• Make you feel comfortable during your appointment?
• Explain things in a way that was easy to understand?
• Listen carefully to you?
• Show respect for what you had to say?
• Know important information about your medical history?
• Spend enough time with you?
• Give you a chance to ask questions?

If you answer “no” to any of these questions, you may want to keep looking.

Patients and health care providers share a very personal relationship. Doctors need to know a lot about you, your family, and your lifestyle to give you the best medical care. And you need to speak up and share your concerns and questions. Clear and honest communication between you and your physician can help you both make smart choices about your health.

Begin with some preparation. Before your health exam, make a list of any concerns and questions you have. Bring this list to your appointment, so you won’t forget anything.

Do you have a new symptom? Have you noticed side effects from your medicines? Do you want to know the meaning of a certain word? Don’t wait for the doctor to bring up a certain topic, because he or she may not know what’s important to you. Speak up with your concerns.

“There’s no such thing as a dumb question in the doctor’s office,” says Dr. Matthew Memoli, an infectious disease doctor at NIH. “I try very hard to make my patients feel comfortable asking questions, no matter how dumb they think the question is.”

Even if the topic seems sensitive or embarrassing, it’s best to be honest and upfront with your health care provider. You may feel uncomfortable talking about sexual problems, memory loss, or bowel issues, but these are all important to your health. It’s better to be thorough and share a lot of information than to be quiet or shy about what you’re thinking or feeling. Remember, your doctor is used to talking about all kinds of personal matters.

Consider taking along a family member or friend when you visit the doctor. Your companion can help if there are language or cultural differences between you and your doctor. If you feel unsure about a topic, the other person can help you describe your feelings or ask questions on your behalf. It also helps to have someone else’s perspective. Your friend may think of questions or raise concerns that you hadn’t considered.

Many people search online for health information. They use Web-based tools to research symptoms and learn about different illnesses. But you can’t diagnose your own condition or someone else’s based on a Web search.

“As a physician, I personally have no problem with people looking on the Web for information, but they should use that information not as a way to self-diagnose or make decisions, but as a way to plan their visit with the doctor,” says Memoli. Ask your doctor to recommend specific websites or resources, so you know you’re getting your facts from a trusted source. Federal agencies are among the most reliable sources of online health information.

Many health care providers now use electronic health records. Ask your doctor how to access your records, so you can keep track of test results, diagnoses, treatment plans, and medicines. These records can also help you prepare for your next appointment.

After your appointment, if you’re uncertain about any instructions or have other questions, call or email your health care provider. Don’t wait until your next visit to make sure you understand your diagnosis, treatment plan, or anything else that might affect your health.

Your body is complicated and there’s a lot to consider, so make sure you do everything you can to get the most out of your medical visits.

Article Review. This special issue is a collection of previously published articles. However, articles were updated and re-reviewed by NIH experts prior to inclusion. Published December 2017.

Tips for Your Doctor Visit

• Write down a list of questions and concerns before your exam.
• Consider bringing a close friend or family member with you.
• Speak your mind. Tell your doctor how you feel, including things that may seem unimportant or embarrassing.
• If you don’t understand something, ask questions until you do.
• Take notes about what the doctor says, or ask a friend or family member to take notes for you.
• Ask about the best way to contact the doctor (by phone, email, etc.).
• Remember that other members of your health care team, such as nurses and pharmacists, can be good sources of information.