Topic Overview
Choosing a doctor or another type of health
professional to help with your health care is very important. Never before have
people had so many kinds of doctors and other health professionals to choose
from. The relationship you have with your health professional greatly
influences the health decisions you make and, ultimately, your health.
Talk with your health professional about being a partner in your health
decisions. He or she will most likely support your desire to take an active
role in your health care.
Think about the following important
considerations when choosing a health professional:
- Is the health professional
well-trained and experienced?
- Is the
health professional
board-certified?
- Will the health
professional be available when needed?
- Will the health professional
work in partnership with you?
- Does your health plan provide
coverage for this service?
This topic lists many of the specialties and subspecialties
of medical doctors. It also provides listings for other types of health
professionals you may see for your health needs. Each listing includes a
description of the specialty and information about why you might choose that
type of health professional.
Medical Specialists
Medical specialists are doctors
who have completed advanced education and clinical training in a specific area
of medicine (their specialty area). Examples of medical specialists include the
following:
Other Health Professional Specialists
Other health
professional specialists include the following:
Preparing for Your Appointment
Before the visit
Collect the following information
before your visit. Take it with you to your appointment.
- Gather any medical records for previous
treatment for the same or a similar problem.
- Make a list of all
prescription and nonprescription medicines you are taking.
During the visit
- State your main problem or reason for your
visit.
- Describe your symptoms.
- Describe your past
experiences with this problem.
- State how this problem is affecting
your life.
After the visit
Write down:
- What your health professional thinks the
problem might be.
- What you might expect to happen
next.
- What you can do to manage your problem at home.
Questions to ask about medicines, tests, and treatments
- What is the name of the medicine, test, or
treatment?
- Why is it needed?
- What are the
risks?
- What are potential side effects?
- Are there
alternatives?
- How much does it cost?
- Is the cost of
the medicine covered by my insurance?
- What will happen if I decide
not to have treatment?
- How do I take this medicine?
- How
will this medicine react with other medicines I am taking?
- How do I
prepare for each test or treatment?
Questions to ask at the end of your visit
- When should I return for another
visit?
- When will test results be available?
- Should I contact you or will you contact
me?
- Be sure to ask for copies of any test results.
- Are there any danger signs that I need to look
for?
- What else do I need to know?
For more information, see the topic
Making the Most of Your Appointment.
Other Places To Get Help
Organization
| American Board of Medical
Specialties |
| 220 North LaSalle Street |
| Suite 1500 |
| Chicago, IL 60601 |
| Phone: | 1-866-ASK-ABMS (1-866-275-2267) toll-free
(312) 436-2600 |
| Web Address: | www.abms.org |
| |
The American Board of Medical Specialties (ABMS) is the
umbrella organization for the 24 approved medical specialty boards in the
United States. The ABMS provides information to the public concerning issues
involving specialization and certification in medicine. This organization can
help you verify whether your doctor is board-certified. |
|
Credits
| By | Healthwise Staff |
|---|
| Primary Medical Reviewer | Kathleen Romito, MD - Family Medicine |
|---|
| Specialist Medical Reviewer | E. Gregory Thompson, MD - Internal Medicine |
|---|
| Last Revised | August 20, 2010 |
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