Choosing the right female doctor is an important decision that requires research and intuition.
Whether you're planning on having a baby, pregnant, or just in need of medical care, it is important that you find a woman doctor you are comfortable with. Some factors you may want to take into consideration when choosing a woman doctor, besides a convenient office location, are whether or not you two are compatible, what her medical views are, what the OB/gyn's history is, how long she has been practicing, and how comfortable you are with her.
Instructions
1. Make a list of the characteristics you are looking for in a woman doctor. These might include the sex of the doctor, the number of years she has spent practicing, how far you are willing to drive for appointments, areas of concern regarding your female health that you would like to have addressed, and what type of affiliations you prefer that your doctor has, such as practicing at a heath center, a hospital, or private practice. Also, if you carry insurance, you may want to consider which doctors your plan accepts.
2. Verify your options with your insurance carrier. Check to see if your insurance requires that your primary car physician provide you with a referral for an OB/gyn, or whether you can choose from a list of approved doctors.
3. Obtain referrals. Speak with healthcare professionals, such as nurses or your primary care physician about recommended women doctors. Also, speak with your female family members, friends, and co-workers, especially those in the same age-bracket and with the same gynecological needs as you in order to find out their opinions about doctors, such as who they like and who they wouldn't recommend.
4. Request the names of OB/gyn's in your area by calling your county medical office. You will then be able to determine whether or not the woman doctor is board certified, meaning she has all the certification necessary and required in her field, or if she is just board-eligible, meaning she has not obtained the necessary credentials or she has not passed the required certification exam.
5. Research your chosen woman doctor. Visit the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists' (ACOG) website and search the name of the doctors or doctor you have been referred to in their online database. Here you will be able to find out whether the doctor is an ACOG member and various information about her practice, such as affiliations, spoken languages, and hours of operation.
6. Schedule your appointment. You will be able to immediately determine the environment of the office through your initial phone call. Whether or not you are placed on hold for a long period of time and how far out your appointment is scheduled will indicate just how busy the office normally is and how long you will have to wait in between appointments. When scheduling, ask the receptionist about the typical time frame in scheduling routine office visits versus emergency visits.
7. Write out a list of questions to ask the woman doctor and bring them with you to your first visit. Request an introductory meeting with the doctor at which you can ask all the questions you would like answered prior to the exam and prior to making a decision whether or not she is the right doctor for you.
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