Health Care Provider Selection
How did you find your primary health care provider? Do you even have one?
In the US, most people choose a provider based on location. That means you put your most valuable asset, your health, in the hands of someone because they are the most convenient to your home or work. Most of you ask your insurance company or a friend or neighbor or a hospital website which doctor or nurse practitioner is closest to you and you put your life in his or her hands without any other information.
Are you crazy?
There are a few things you can do to get basic information on a potential provider. The hospital website look up can be helpful, because not only will you find out who is affiliated with the hospital you are most comfortable with, but often the site will tell you where the provider went to school, when he/she graduated, and what type of practice they have.
Another thing to check is whether the person you are considering has a license in your state, and whether complaints have been lodged against them. Most states now have online medical provider license look up capability. You can search nurse, doctor, chiropractor, nurse practitioner, physician assistant and every other category of licensed health care professional. In Illinois, this list is maintained by the Department of Financial and Professional Regulation. These sites often state whether a complaint has been filed against a professional.
If you are going to a specialist, find someone who is board certified in their specialty. Orthopaedic surgeons, rheumatologists and dermatologists are a few examples of specialists who should be board certified. This means they have gone through extra education: classroom, clinical, and work experience and were then tested to achieve this certification. Nurses have specialty certifications as well. It indicates a professional is passionate enough to go through the time and trouble to get certified, and demonstrates a level of knowledge and competency that is important.
Use all the tools at your disposal when choosing a health care provider. Your life may well depend on your selection.
