Choosing a Hospital and Physician

Choosing a physician, specialist, or hospital system is a serious decision. It can feel overwhelming when trying to decide on which doctor or hospital is the best for you and your family. Unfortunately, many patients don’t give too much thought to the issue, going with the first doctor to pop up on an internet search or the first recommendation from their health insurance website.

However, you should be an informed and empowered patient. Your doctor and hospital system are crucial parts of your personal and family health, so you want to make the best choice. Here are a few ways you can make your best decision.

Start with Insurance Coverage

Let’s be clear: you don’t have to choose a physician or hospital system that is covered by your family’s health insurance plan. However, there can be significant cost differences between choosing one that accepts your insurance and one that does not. If you want to choose a physician or system within your insurance coverage, begin your process on your insurance website. Make a list of doctors and systems within your local area and preferred drive time that is covered by your insurance. 

Look at Specialities and Connections

Once you have your list, you can begin to narrow it down. Look on your list for physicians that have the specialties you need. Are you looking for a family general practitioner or an oncologist? These specialties are quite different, so be sure you are looking for what you need right now. Then, be sure your physicians operate with your preferred hospital system. While you certainly can have different physicians from different hospital systems, things can get a bit more difficult when it comes to communication between hospital systems.

Look at Their Grades and Accreditations

Finally, be sure you choose a physician and hospital system that is good at their jobs. You can search for hospitals that are accredited from national organizations like the Joint Commission or the Commission on Accreditation of Rehabilitation Facilities. For doctors, you can search for their grades and feedback via Health Grades or Vitals. You can also ask for referrals and recommendations from family members and friends.

Even when you do choose a physician or hospital system, you can still be vulnerable to malpractice situations. If you are unsatisfied with your care or suspect medical malpractice, work with an experienced attorney right away. 

The team at Grewer Law has the law experience and the medical experience to advocate for your best interests. Call us today to tell us more about your situation.