In our previous blog we discussed patient rights—your right to choose where and from whom you receive care. These rights are vital to receiving the care you need with dignity and respect, and they can help support you in engaging with your healthcare.

Exercising your rights as a patient is the best way to engage in your care, and engaging in your care is an excellent way to ensure you stay knowledgeable and make informed decisions about your healthcare.

You might be wondering, though, what are some ways I can exercise my patient rights? One of the most important ways that will have a big influence on your care is choosing your care provider.

Choosing a Care Provider

If you don’t have a primary care provider currently, choosing one is an important step in exercising your patient rights. By choosing your care provider, you’ll take an active step in directing the quality of your care for the future.

Depending on where you live, you might have many options to choose from or only a few. Regardless of the size of healthcare facilities in your town, however, doing your due diligence and picking the right care provider is vitally important.

How do you begin choosing a care provider, though?

Research Your Options

The first step is to conduct some research.

Many hospitals and clinics post information about their care providers on their websites. You can learn more about care providers by reading the biographies which list their specialties and specific healthcare interests.

Some healthcare websites even list reviews of their care providers. These reviews are left by patients like you and provide helpful insight into the quality of care each provider offers.

By using these tools, you’ll be able to gain an introductory insight into a particular care provider before scheduling an appointment.

If there is a provider that you’re interested in, scheduling an appointment with them is the next step in determining if they’re the right care provider for you.

Schedule an Appointment & Ask the Right Questions

During an appointment with a care provider, there are some necessary things to pay attention to. Here are a few questions to consider during an appointment that will help you choose the right care provider:

• Does their experience and specialty match your healthcare needs?
• Is their clinic or hospital within your insurance network?
• Do they make you comfortable?

While the first two questions are related to logistical points of healthcare, the third question is purely subjective and based on your feelings. However, the third question is equally important to consider, since choosing a care is a highly personal decision.

When choosing a care provider, it’s very important that you feel comfortable discussing your health with them. Here are a few more questions you should ask yourself to help determine if you feel comfortable with a care provider:

• Am I comfortable discussing any and all matters concerning my health with them?
• Do they encourage me to ask questions?
• Do they make me feel heard and understood?

If you are able to answer yes to those three questions, that’s a good indicator that a particular care provider is the right fit for you.

These questions are valuable things to consider, because choosing a care provider is a personal decision that will impact your life.

Choose a care provider who makes you feel comfortable. Your health is one of the most personal parts of your life, so finding a care provider with whom you are able to discuss private aspects of your health with is very important.

Choosing the Right Care Provider

When it comes to choosing a care provider, their specialties and experience are necessary criteria to consider, but the relational side of care is of equal importance.

Your care provider will be an important figure in your life, so making sure they are a good intrapersonal fit with you is vital.

Choosing the right care provider comes down to research and outreach. Research providers online who practice near you and schedule an appointment to create a personal relationship.

Taking charge of your healthcare is key to getting the most out of your care, and doing your due diligence to choose a care provider is an important part of exercising your patient rights.

SUMMARY

If you don’t have a primary care provider currently, researching choosing one is an important step in exercising your patient rights. By choosing your care provider, you’ll take an active step in directing the quality of your care for the future. Choosing the right care provider comes down to research and outreach. Research providers online who practice near you and schedule an appointment to create a personal relationship. Taking charge of your healthcare is key to getting the most out of your care, and doing your due diligence to choose a care provider is an important part of exercising your patient rights.