RANTAU

To find a suitable medical specialist, most people will take referrals from general practitioners or ask for advice from their friends, relatives or social networks. But there are better ways to make sure you get the right medical specialist for your specific condition.

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1. Determine the type of doctor you need.

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Finding a suitable medical specialist should be based on the root cause which results in the appearance of symptoms on your body. The emergence of symptoms on your body may be resulted by one of several different causes.

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For example, symptoms such as dizziness may be caused by Parkinson's disease, multiple sclerosis, low iron levels (anemia), low blood sugar (hypoglycemia), Meniere's disease or just simply because of dehydration. Each of those causes has a type of specialist doctor trained to treat it.

 

Are you looking for an endocrinologist? A hematologist? A nephrologist? We have prepared a guidance for you here: 34 Types of Medical Specialists and Their Roles

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If you do not know the root cause for your pain or symptoms, you can see a nearby primary care physician first to get a better picture of your condition.

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2. Define your preference.

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• Do you need a male or female doctor?

• Do you want a doctor who works in a particular hospital?

• Do you need a doctor who can speak a foreign language?

 

3. Research the doctor's background.

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Once you have shortened the list of doctors of your choice, then evaluate those doctors. What about their educational background, reputation and certification status? Read their background online and see if they have social media accounts. There are lots of information you can find out about the doctor's style by just reading his/her posts on social media.

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4. Make an appointment.

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Don't forget to evaluate the service quality of the doctor and the hospital staff such as the type of assistance given to you, staff's etiquette and how long you have to wait to see the doctor.

 

5. Get ready for your appointment.

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Take some time before the appointment to list all available questions you have, all the medicines you consumed, your medical history and your insurance information. Ask a lot of questions during the appointment and see how your doctor reacts to your concerns. Is he attentive enough to your problems and answers your questions carefully?

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Find out more about the common questions usually asked by a doctor, general questions you should ask and methods to get ready for your doctor's appointment here: Useful Tips to Get Ready for Your Doctor's Appointment

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6. Get a second doctor's opinion for certainty if you want.

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Occasionally, specialists who have the best qualifications still cannot guarantee that they will be the right doctor for you. Maybe because they are disturbed by other things and are unable to pay special attention to your needs. There are many more experts out there. If you did not find the right specialist on your first attempt, then continue your search.

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