Hi friends! As much as I encourage people to find a new doctor if they are not happy with theirs, I’m not sure how to go about it, and now it’s my turn:
I’ve been with my Endo for a number of years and she’s great. However, her office is a little out of my way and issues with communication have become particularly frustrating, so I’m thinking of finding a new one closer to home.
I have found a group practice I’m considering looking into, and most if not all of their practitioners are board certified.
Details about their physicians are provided on the practice’s website so I’m having trouble thinking of questions to ask. I’m usually good at “winging it” in interviews but feel I need to be more structured in this case. Would appreciate suggestions for questions to ask - maybe ones you wish you had posed yourself?
Also, is the first appointment a "get-to-know-you one, followed by a standard one if they’re a good match, or do you in as if you are preparing to stay with them?
I really lucked out finding the doctor I’m with now - options with my previous insurance plan were limited so I simply made my first appointment and stayed with her afterwards. So thanks in advance for any suggestions.
Hi Dorie! I had to switch to a new Endo when mine quit (yes she hated running a practice so she actually quit). Anyway I found a group close by and picked a certified Endo and then asked questions at the first appointment. T1 is pretty rare so I suppose how long they have been treating type 1 and how many patients might be interesting. How they feel about new tech what do they have training in (major pump and CGM manufacturers) and if there are any preferences. Other than that I had to get used to the fact I’ve been treating Type 1 longer than my doctor, the feeling is weird but common for me. Good luck 
I know what you mean about longevity! Sometimes I ponder between an older physician with more experience (in theory) or a younger one who might be more familiar with and open to new technology. Hopefully all are “in the Loop” by now but I wouldn’t be surprised if they haven’t yet encountered ilet. I actually asked when I first called and they said no, but I was my current doctors first patient on iLet and Omnipod so I’m used to breaking new ground. Ironically there’s not much doctors can do with ilet since there are no basals or carb ratios to manage - that could work for me or against me I guess…
Thanks!
Hi Dori, I’ve been in your position a couple of times and somehow my selection has worked out well. Personally, I wouldn’t be too concerned about “Board Certified”, whatever that means; over the years I have worked ith some of the world’s foremost diabetologists with only one of those being a member of The Endocrine Society - not all endos are top-notch when helping manage diabetes. What I’m saying, please keep an open mind and know that you, with your lifelong experience may know more about living with and managing diabetes than some of the doctors in a group practice; a positive of a group practice could be a sharing of knowledge and solving issues and those doctors will be learning FROM you. Some of the foregoing was recently shared with me by an Endocrinologist who had only been a member of The Society for 33 years.
Now the practical stuff. Before selecting a physician for your care, write down what YOU need from the doctor and the degree of “lecture” you can tolerate without becoming upset to the point where you block out suggestions the doctor may offer - IMO, it is better to open this book at the very beginning.
Try to get a feeling about how open the doctor is to be experimenting with management methods that aren’t “by the book” but that have apparently worked for you; put another way, respect you in your efforts to improve your diabetes management. This works two ways, are you willing to adjust your thinking ad follow your physician’s directives? I had this decision to make four months ago when the endocrinologist’s opening words were "you need to significantly increase your glycosylated hemoglobin; I’ve been holding in the 5.5-5.8% range and she wants me in the 6.0-6.4% range - she followed with a smile saying at your age there isn’t much of a chance of new long-term complications.
In addition to what Joe said - chose a doctor who will listen to you and hear what you are saying.
First appointment is usually scheduled with extra time so I always wait to decide until after I’ve experienced the regular appointment. I go in acting like I’ve already decided.
My one good question for a new endo is “When exercising with the goal of weight loss how do I manage my blood sugar in a way that doesn’t require eating a bunch of calories before and during exercise?” The answer shows how the doc handles answering complicated questions, if they lecture or discuss, and how good they are at applying medical advice to real life.
I wouldn’t suggest using years of experience as a criteria. Like @Dennis said talk to the doc and try to get a sense of how open they are to your management style and also learning new things. There are enough pump systems now that an endo may not be well versed in all of them but do they welcome the opportunity to work with patients using something other than “the usual”. Being on the iLet is a great opportunity for you to feel out the endo since the pump is primarily marketed as a solution for those struggling with diabetes how long does it take them to realize you are educated and engaged.
If having multiple providers at the practice sounds good to you be sure to go through the list and see how many see adults with diabetes. For example were I go there are 18 endos but only 3, maybe 5, who treat adults with Type 1 and 2.
Would you be willing to talk about the communication problems that are prompting you to want to change? I’ve had some recent problems in that dept. too and some successes and failures dealing with it has given me some perspective.
Thank you for your suggestions, @spdif . My issues are related to being able to actually reach my physician rather than her listening, and I appreciate your helping me clarify: she is associated with a hospital and when her office answers the call things are fine, but when my call rolls over to their system or when I use the patient portal, response is delayed - if there is one at all. The same is true for other physicians in their practice plan as well. I have let her know about my issues but sadly this is a problem with the system which may not be a simple fix.