Finding a new doctor: A guide for older adults

Your kids want you to move close to them. Or your doctor has reached retirement age. Or maybe you've got a new health insurance plan. Whatever the reason, after all these years with the same family doctor, you might discover that you have to find a new physician.

It might seem overwhelming at first — especially if you've come to trust your doctor and he or she understands you and your health history. Follow these steps and give yourself time to search for a new doctor who's best for you.

Step 3: Ask around for advice

Talk to friends and family about doctors they recommend. Perhaps your current doctor can even make some recommendations. Nurses in your doctor's office or at your local hospital might be able to offer recommendations, since they often work with several doctors. You might also consult:

• A local hospital you respect. If you've heard that a particular clinic or hospital in your town is good, you might want to call that hospital's referral service and ask for more information about the doctors available to see you.
• Local, county or state medical societies. Networks of doctors in your area might have referral services to assist you with your search. Check your local telephone directory.
• Medical organizations. The American Medical Association (AMA) is a national organization that allows you to search listings by name or specialty. Some organizations have local chapters that can supply you with the names of specialists in your area. Medicare operates an online directory of doctors on its Web site. You can search by location and the doctor's specialty.

You might also be interested in checking your new doctor's credentials online. Administrators in Medicine, the national organization of state medical and osteopathic board executive directors, lists state Web sites that give such information, though not all states list doctors' credentials online. Depending on the information available from your state, you might be able to find out if the doctor is currently licensed to practice medicine and whether or not any disciplinary action has been taken against the doctor.

Step 4: Call your selected doctors' offices

Once you've made your list of preferences and decided what type of doctor you'd like, call doctors' offices in your area and ask questions. You may want to ask about:

• Whether the doctor accepts your health insurance
• The doctor's education and training
• How long the wait is for an appointment
• Whether the office will process medical claims for you or whether you'll need to do that yourself
• The doctor's experience with any chronic health conditions you might have
• Who will see you or answer your questions when the doctor is unavailable
• Whether the doctor works with other health care professionals, such as nurse practitioners and physician's assistants, and how often you'll see these professionals rather than the doctor

Ask any other questions that will help you narrow your choice of doctors. Responses to your questions might also give you an idea of how friendly or stressed out the office staff members are.

Step 6: Transfer your medical information

Once you've selected a new doctor, talk with your current doctor about getting your medical records in order. With your permission, your current doctor can send your files to your new doctor. You might also ask for copies of your medical records for your own reference. Your current doctor may also be willing to fill your new doctor in on your chronic health problems. But don't wait until the last minute. Give your current doctor enough time to prepare your files to ensure a smooth transition to your new doctor.

Finding a new doctor can seem overwhelming. But following a series of simple steps can make finding a new doctor much easier — and offer a greater level of satisfaction when you turn to your new doctor for medical advice in the future.

Why are vaccines given to children when they're so young?

Childhood vaccines offer protection from a variety of serious or potentially fatal diseases. Early vaccination is essential because these diseases are most likely to occur when a child is very young and the risk of complications is greatest. If we wait to vaccinate until a child is older, it may be too late.

Is the immunity a child gets from a vaccine as strong as the immunity he or she would get from a natural infection?

Immunity from a vaccine is generally as strong as immunity following a natural infection — without illness or the risk of serious effects of disease, such as disability or even death. Vaccines simply help your child's immune system do its work.

Could combination vaccines be too much for a child's immune system to handle at one time?

Children are exposed to many different germs every day. The introduction of several weakened or killed disease strains in a combination vaccine is no different. Studies show that combination vaccines are safe and effective, even for infants. Better yet, combination vaccines offer protection from various diseases more quickly and with fewer shots than would a series of individual vaccines given separately over the course of weeks or months.

Is there a connection between autism and childhood vaccines?

Researchers haven't found a connection between autism and childhood vaccines. Although signs of autism may appear at about the same time children receive certain vaccines — such as the measles, mumps and rubella (MMR) vaccine — this is simply a coincidence.

What happens if a child misses doses of certain vaccines?

Catch-up vaccinations are available for most vaccines. It usually isn't necessary to repeat earlier doses of a particular vaccine.

What's the best way to comfort a child during a shot?

Stay calm and relaxed. Hold your child and talk with him or her during the shot. Offer a favorite blanket, stuffed animal or toy for comfort and distraction. After the shot, use an ice pack to reduce redness and swelling near the injection site. If your child is uncomfortable, give him or her acetaminophen (Tylenol, others) or ibuprofen (Advil, Motrin, others). Read the label instructions for the correct dose. Don't give aspirin to anyone younger than age 19.