3. Ask for Recommendations From Doctors and Peers
If you feel comfortable doing so, you could ask your current primary care doctor for recommendations, says Melmed.
Other people who are living with UC can be another valuable resource. Asking them for doctor references can help guide you to the right place, and joining a UC support group is a great way to network and exchange information.
4. Call the Doctor’s Office to Ask About Their Experience With Treating Ulcerative Colitis
If you have a list of doctors to try but aren’t sure which one will be best for you, it may be worth calling the office and asking how many people with UC the doctor sees. That’ll give you a sense of how much experience the physician has with the condition, Melmed says.
This is also a good time to ask questions about the practice itself, such as which insurance plans they accept, what telehealth policies they may have, or how long the average wait time is for an appointment.
5. Make the Most of Your First Appointment
The first appointment is your best opportunity to see if a doctor is the right long-term fit for you. As Dr. Sagi says, a good physician will treat not just the disease, but also you as a person. To make the most of this visit and find out if the doctor is a good fit, it helps to come prepared. Some ways to do this include:
- Write Down Your Questions It’s easy to forget things in the moment, so write down a list of questions and concerns before your appointment. Examples include: “How will I know if my UC is in remission?” or “When should I see or contact you?”
- Summarize Your Health History Be ready to share a brief history of your UC journey. It might be helpful to bring a simple timeline that includes the date of your diagnosis, a list of past and current medications and how you responded to them, and information about any past surgeries or hospital visits related to your UC.
- Keep a Symptom Journal For a week or two leading up to your appointment, keep a simple log of your symptoms, their severity, and any potential triggers you’ve noticed. This provides concrete information for your new doctor to work with.
6. Consider a Hospital System if You Need Surgery
Melmed says that while you don’t need to get your routine care at a major surgical center, it’s best to find a surgeon or hospital that specializes in IBD and is covered by your insurance. Having a plan in place will make the process much smoother if the need for surgery ever arises.
7. Keep Track of Your Medical Records
As you conduct your search for the right doctor, be sure your medical records follow you. “It can be tricky for a doctor to see new patients when the records aren’t available,” Melmed says. Either make sure your records precede you to the new office or bring them with you to ensure you get the best care from the start. Important things to have (if available) include colonoscopy and biopsy reports, any imaging studies, such as computed tomography (CT) scans, surgery records, and recent progress notes and medication lists.
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