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Medical Provider Evaluation ChecklistThis Medical Provider Evaluation Checklist provides sample questions to ask during telephone interviews; face-to-face-interviews; and when contacting patient references. Make copies of this checklist and use one each time you interview a provider. Note — This checklist is intended as a guideline only; adapt it to your own needs as you see fit. Remember that you alone are responsible for ensuring that the provider you select meets your needs.
After interviewing the doctors, staff and other patients, rate your overall impressions of each doctor and practice. Do you feel positively, negatively or neutral? Use your answers to the questions below to compare the different doctors and practices. Ultimately, what matters most is that you trust the provider you choose and consider him or her a partner in maintaining your health and wellness. Trust your instincts and chances are you will be satisfied with your choice. If you are not satisfied, interview other doctors using the same guidelines.
Provider Name:____________________________
Preliminary Questions to Ask Office Staff Via the Telephone
-
Is the doctor accepting new patients?
No Yes - What type of insurance does the doctor accept?____________________________
-
Is the doctor board certified? (The answer to this question can
provide you with information about the doctor’s credentials.)
No Yes -
How many doctors are in the practice? Are they all board
certified? (It is important to know who will treat you if your doctor is
unavailable.)
No Yes - How long has the doctor been practicing?____________________________
- What are the office hours? (Early morning and evening hours may be absolutely necessary if you work from 9-5.)____________________________
-
Is there an after-hours answering service?
No Yes -
Are there holiday or weekend hours?
No Yes - How far in advance must appointments typically be made?____________________________
- How long do routine appointments last?____________________________
-
Is there a fee for appointments canceled within a specific
period of time before the scheduled date?
No Yes
If so, what is the fee?____________________________ - What are the on-call policies (who will be answering calls when the doctor is away from the office)?____________________________
-
How available is the doctor for
emergencies?____________________________
Are daily appointment slots left open for emergencies?
No Yes - How available is the doctor for telephone consultations? Are there set times for callbacks? When is the best time to call for minor questions?____________________________
- If I am sick, do I need to call or come to the office on a first-come, first-served basis?____________________________
- What is the procedure for accessing my medical records? Is there a fee for requesting copies of medical records? (Note — By law, you have the right to access your records.)____________________________
-
Will my medical records and private information be kept
confidential?
No Yes -
Is payment due in full at the time of the visit?
No Yes -
Are payment schedules available?
No Yes - How are the bills handled? How are insurance claims handled and who processes the claims?____________________________
- Which hospitals, specialists and special services is the doctor affiliated with?____________________________
- What type of medical equipment is on the premises (e.g., lab for blood work, x-ray machine, etc.)?____________________________
Questions to Ask the Doctor
- What is your educational background? Do you have a particular specialty or subspecialty? Do you have any particular areas of interest?____________________________
- What are the specialties (internal medicine, obstetrics/gynecology, geriatrics, etc.) of the different providers in your group practice (if applicable)?____________________________
- What is the age range of the patients you treat (if applicable)?____________________________
- What do you do to stay abreast of the latest advances in medicine?____________________________
- Are you flexible or conservative in approving referrals to other services?____________________________
- Who covers your patients when you are out of town or away from the office?____________________________
Questions to Ask Yourself After the Visit
- When you arrived at the office, what were your feelings about the surroundings? Was the office clean and safe?____________________________
-
Did the doctor seem cooperative and open during the visit?
No Yes
Explain:____________________________ -
Were your questions answered carefully, thoroughly and clearly?
No Yes -
Did you feel listened to?
No Yes
Explain:____________________________ -
Did you feel comfortable with the doctor?
No Yes
Explain:____________________________ -
Did you feel like the doctor treated you with respect?
No Yes
Explain:____________________________ -
Did you feel confident in the doctor?
No Yes
Explain:____________________________ -
Did the doctor seem genuinely interested in you and his or her
other patients?
No Yes
Explain:____________________________ -
Is the office location convenient?
No Yes
Questions to Ask Other Patients (References)
-
Does the doctor ask you to share any concerns and does he or she
respect your opinions?
No Yes
Explain:____________________________ -
Does the doctor make an effort to establish a rapport with you?
No Yes
Explain:____________________________ - How would you describe the doctor’s personality?____________________________
- On average, how long are office waits?____________________________
-
When there are office waits, does the doctor express concern
about your time?
No Yes
Explain:____________________________ -
Do you get all your questions answered by the physician and
office staff?
No Yes
Explain:____________________________ -
Are the office staff members unhurried and patient?
No Yes
Explain:____________________________ -
Does the staff seem to understand your needs?
No Yes
Explain:____________________________ - What are your criticisms of the office/staff/doctor?____________________________
- How would you improve the office?____________________________
-
Is there anything else you can think of that would be relevant
for me to know about the doctor or his or her practice?
No Yes
Explain:____________________________
Excerpted from "A LifeCare® Guide: Choosing a Medical Provider." Copyright© 2001 LifeCare®, Inc. All rights reserved.
This publication is for general informational purposes only and it is not intended to provide any reader with specific authority, advice or recommendations. Where you deem necessary, we suggest that you seek advice regarding your particular situation from the appropriate professional.
Copyright© 2012; LifeCare®, Inc. All Rights Reserved.
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