Choosing a Doctor or Health Care Service
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Summary
We all want high-quality health care, but it's hard to know how to choose. There are many things to consider, including
- What your insurance covers
- Whether a health care provider or service is accredited
- The location of a service
- Hours that the service is available
- Whether you like a health care provider's personality
On this page you'll find information to help you choose a health care provider or service.
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Choosing a Doctor You Can Talk To
(National Institute on Aging)
Related Issues
- Choosing a Family Doctor (American Academy of Family Physicians) Also in Spanish
-
Choosing a Safe and Successful Weight-Loss Program
(National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases)
- Choosing a Transplant Center (National Marrow Donor Program)
-
For People with Osteoporosis: How to Find a Doctor
(National Institute of Arthritis and Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases)
- Helping You Choose Quality Ambulatory Care (Joint Commission) - PDF Also in Spanish
- Helping You Choose Quality Behavioral Health Care (Joint Commission) - PDF
- Helping You Choose Quality Hospice Care (Joint Commission) - PDF Also in Spanish
- Helping You Identify Quality Laboratory Services (Joint Commission) - PDF
- Home Care Services: Questions to Ask (Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research) Also in Spanish
-
Managing Cancer Care - Finding Health Care Services
(National Cancer Institute)
Also in Spanish
- Mental Health Providers: Credentials, Services Offered and What to Expect (Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research) Also in Spanish
- Patient Safety: Do Your Homework (American Society of Plastic Surgeons)
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Time to Talk: 6 Things to Know When Selecting a Complementary Health Practitioner
(National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health)
Also in Spanish
Health Check Tools
- Question Builder: Be Prepared for Your Next Medical Appointment (Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality)
Find an Expert
- Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services
- DocInfo (Federation of State Medical Boards of the United States)
- Find a Dialysis Facility (Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services)
- Find a Nursing Home (Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services) Also in Spanish
- Medicare: Physician Compare (Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services)
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MedlinePlus: Directories
(National Library of Medicine)
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National Institute on Aging
Also in Spanish
Children
- Finding a Doctor for Your New Baby (Nemours Foundation) Also in Spanish
Teenagers
- Choosing a Primary Health Care Provider (PCP): A Guide for Young Men (Children's Hospital Boston)
- Choosing a Primary Health Care Provider (PCP): A Guide for Young Women (Children's Hospital Boston)
Seniors
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Care Options at the End of Life
(National Institute on Aging)
-
Choosing a Doctor You Can Talk To
(National Institute on Aging)
- Helping You Choose Quality Nursing and Rehabilitation Center Services (Joint Commission) - PDF
Patient Handouts
- Choosing a doctor and hospital for your cancer treatment (Medical Encyclopedia) Also in Spanish
- Choosing a primary care provider (Medical Encyclopedia) Also in Spanish