Don't wait until illness or injury strike; Better Business Bureau recommends beginning the search for doctors and other medical professionals while in good health.
"Trust and patience are critical when searching for doctors," said Robert W.G. Andrew, CEO of BBB serving Alaska, Oregon and Western Washington. "Sensitive medical information should always be in competent, qualified hands."
According to the U.S. Department of Labor, there are approximately 97,820 family doctors - also known as general practitioners - operating in the United States, so finding a quality fit may seem like an overwhelming task. Save headaches by considering the following:
Prescribe requirements: Good doctors have good patients; ask trusted friends, relatives or coworkers for recommendations on medical professionals. Consider offices that can accept insurance providers, have convenient office hours and provide necessary services.
Examine the options: Take time to thoroughly investigate potential doctors; make a list and narrow it down to three or four. Visit bbb.org to see if any complaints have been made about the doctors' practices; and check with the Alaska State Medical Board, Oregon Medical Board or Washington State Department of Health to see if these doctors are properly licensed.
B-positive: When selecting doctors, make sure that the fit is perfect; if it is not, then try someone else. It may take a while to settle, but stay optimistic. Good doctors will understand a patient's need to feel completely comfortable.
Visit bbb.org for more health industry tips.
About your BBB serving Alaska, Oregon and Western Washington:
Better Business Bureau (BBB) is a neutral not-for-profit organization with the mission to advance marketplace trust. BBB is supported by BBB Accredited Businesses and provides ethical business standards, BBB Reliability Reports, Charity Review Reports, complaint handling, marketplace events and tips. For more information, contact BBB or visit www.bbb.org.
