CHOOSING A DOCTORThere Are Lots of Questions That Need Answering When You’re Looking for a Primary-Care Physician.Step By Step to Quality Care:

You’re not feeling well and don’t know whom to call.

Your doctor moved, or you did.

Or maybe you’re just not happy with your doc.

So, how do you choose a new primary-care physician?

The phone book offers hundreds. Your HMO lists dozens.

This is the person you’ll have to trust enough to show your body – - warts, wrinkles, stretch marks and all.

It’s not easy, but choosing well may be critical to your health.

Dr. Carolyn Clancy, director of the federal Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality, said several studies suggest a direct correlation between a person’s health and a good relationship with his or her primary doctor.

One study found that people who trust their primary-care physicians are much more likely to attempt difficult lifestyle changes, such as stopping smoking, starting exercise or eating better.

Having a primary-care doctor is important not only for routine exams and preventive care, Clancy said. When problems arise, such doctors serve as navigators or coaches, helping you access more specialized treatments.

When weighing your options, a provider’s training, reputation and location are important considerations. But perhaps the biggest factor is your comfort with the doctor or the practice.

“You want somebody who practices good medicine,” said Dr. Paul Paulman, professor of family medicine at the University of Nebraska Medical Center. “But the biggest question is whether or not it’s a personality match.”

Communication is key, said Dr. Donald Frey, chairman of family medicine at Creighton University Medical Center.

“If they’re board-certified, they have the credentials,” he said. “But can I talk to them? It’s the hardest thing to find out.”

Sometimes you find your fit as Elizabeth Turner did — through trial and error.

Turner, an Omaha elementary school teacher, tried to take her 2- year-old to the pediatrician last winter.

Madelyn ran a high fever for two days and influenza was circulating.

But the pediatrician wouldn’t see the girl. A nurse suggested Turner might be overreacting and told her to call back the next day if the fever didn’t break.

Turner didn’t wait. She called her own doctor, a family practitioner who saw Madelyn right away, ran tests and determined she had respiratory syncytial virus, a sometimes severe virus in young children.

The doctor prescribed medications and called daily for a week to check on Madelyn.

Turner said she found the doctor — who now sees the whole family — at a Physicians Clinic near her home.

“I got assigned to her once, and I was impressed with how she handled things,” Turner said.

Her experience with Madelyn confirmed that impression.

“My doctor realizes that I’m Madelyn’s mom and I know my child,” Turner said. “A doctor that will really listen to you and take what you say seriously — and not make you feel stupid if you have questions — that’s so important.”

Of course, no one wants a quack. Basic records checks can help ensure you’re getting a well-trained doctor. For starters, check for an active medical license with little or disciplinary action and a current board certification.

Paulman said that disciplinary action doesn’t necessarily signal bad care, but it should prompt you to ask questions.

“I would give the physician a chance to explain,” Paulman said. “If it’s substantial, repetitive or you’re uncomfortable with the explanation, you might look for someone else.”

And while board certification isn’t required, it’s the gold standard that doctors look for when evaluating their peers.

Even when you’ve found a good doctor, Clancy cautioned, you need to keep yourself informed, ask questions and participate in your care.

“A lot of people think of it as ‘Once I choose the right person, I’m done,’” Clancy said. “But it’s really choosing — and using — well.”

STEP BY STEP TO QUALITY CARE:

1. Decide what you want. A specialist? A primary-care physician? Someone for you or the whole family? A woman or man? Age? Spanish- speaking? A doctor who’s in-network for your insurance or HMO? Office close to your home or work? Able to see you on weekends, evenings, short notice? Uses physician’s assistants or not? Solo or group practice? Affiliated with a particular hospital?

2. Gather names and get referrals. Ask friends, neighbors, relatives and colleagues whom they see and why. Ask about their doctors’ personality, bedside manner and communication skills. Scan your insurance company’s provider directory. Ask a medical professional — a former doctor you liked, a relative in the field or a member of the local medical society — for a referral. Ask whom they see and why. Call or check the “find a physician” links on Web sites for local health systems, medical societies or the Nebraska Academy of Family Physicians (available on omaha.com). Many allow you to conduct specialized searches or talk to an adviser for a referral.

3. Check the records for red flags. Ensure those on your list have current medical licenses and check for disciplinary action. In Nebraska, look up doctors by name at www.hhs.state.ne.us/lis/ lis.asp. In Iowa, check at www.docboard.org/ia/df/iasearch.htm. Check to see whether they are board-certified. Start by calling the American Board of Medical Specialties at (866) ASK-ABMS or by using its free Web-based search service at www.abms.org/login.asp. Check training, years in practice and other credentials with local or county medical societies. The Metro Omaha Medical Society verifies and posts its members’ credentials on its Web site.

4. Phone the doctor’s office. Ask about experience, sub- specialties, success rates for particular treatments and any questions raised by the records you checked. Ask about office hours and work habits. How long is the average office visit? How far ahead must appointments be booked? Who helps when the doctor is busy? Ask about the doctor’s philosophy on prevention, affiliations with or privileges at local hospitals and whether he or she is accepting new patients.

5. Meet the doctor and listen to your gut. Make an introductory appointment and see how it goes. Does the doctor listen, ask questions and explain things well? Do you feel rushed, put down? Can you tell the doctor the truth about your health habits? Were you able to see the doctor at the appointed time? Was it a hassle to work with the staff? If you don’t feel comfortable, try another doctor on your list.

On Page 2: A glossary of some terms used above.