You would think that when relocating your family to a different state finding a doctor would be simple. However, it is far from easy. Just like the information you need for your children when changing schools, there are records required to change doctors. These are things you will want to have handy, do not wait until there is an issue, or someone gets sick.
When making your moving plans be sure to add into them one last doctors visit. At this visit try to get relevant copies of your child's medical history, if you do not want to get actual copies be certain to sign any papers giving permission to transfer records to new physicians. This step is much easier than faxing and notarizing permission slips after the move.
If your child is seen by any specialists make sure that the same release forms are signed, the HIPA laws are extremely picky, even when you are requesting your own information. Ask your current specialists for physician's names, in your new home town, that they might recommend. Be sure to ask if your current doctor would be willing to speak to a new office on your behalf, transferring to a new doctor is not as easy as it sounds, and a specialist is twice as difficult. Issues with insurances add to this level of difficulty, so if your doctors are willing to speak with another's office, it gives you a foot in the door that might otherwise be unachievable, no matter the situation.
Once you have relocated to your new home, do not wait to find a doctor. Pick a doctor, based on word of mouth, the phone book, or recommendations from people you trust. Make an appointment with the doctor you have chosen, and establish a relationship with their office. You will find that most doctor's offices are scheduled three months out, with new patient appointments. If you wait until your child is sick to try scheduling an appointment, you will find that it is virtually impossible to actually see a doctor. This will leave you with the option of a ready care facility, or the emergency room. These options do work, but will still leave you without a doctor to call your own.
Once you have your foot in the door, be sure to have all of your information, and history ready to share. This is the person responsible for taking care of the ones you love most, make sure they are fully aware of your situation. Be confident around the new doctor, not that doctors don't care, sometimes they get unpersonable with patients and forget to see your child as the miracle that you see them as. Do not let them brush off situations that you know, as a parent, are serious. It will help build a stronger bond with your doctor, and they will know when there is truly a problem that needs serious attention.
Don't wait until the last minute. It doesn't hurt to take your child to a doctor, even if it is just to meet one another. It will help in the long run! (This situation is also true with finding a dentist, and orthodontist.) Good luck and happy hunting.
Comments
It is difficult to find a new doctor. After moving to MN 3 years ago, we still haven't found a good family practitioner. So far we have found some idiots who are "practicing" medicine. The wife found a good doctor, but then she wouldn't see new patients, leaving the rest of us out in the cold. It took 3 years to find a good dentist. With rising health care costs, it makes it more necassary to get what you pay for.
When I was a kid, we didn't need doctors. Dad would shoot us up with horse pennicilin or Grandpa would bloat us on kaopectate and all our ills would go away (or you would quit complaining!). My daughter was delivered by the local veterinarian. That worked out pretty well, except she whinnies every once in awhile.
Terrific advice Jennifer! Our family moved every two years as the two children were growing up. Finding new doctors is a huge challenge and good preparation is just the ticket.
Excellent points, Jennifer. I had to find a pain doctor and he asked about my records. I didn't have them with me so he told me that they are my property and a doctor can't refuse to give them to you or give you copies. I was smart enough to get my MRI reports. Still trying to find other doctors. It's like wading through a muddy fog.
Barman must have had pretty weird parents. Glad he did find the local vet to deliver his girl -- usually the best doctors. We used them for our kids as well. They make house calls.
These article could save some poor family a lot of heart ache and worry. Thanks Jennifer - sounds like you may have some experience in this area. I remember the old days when there was only one doctor. He fixed everything from sore throats to appendix removal. Thank God our kids were pretty healthy in those days. Remember that we only had a half-dozen, or so, choices of curable disease in those days. IF you had anything else you died.
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