If you’ve received a referral from your primary care physician for your urological condition, one of the many questions that you probably have in mind is how to ascertain the urologist is a good one and the right fit for you.
While your primary care physician is a reliable referral source, it still pays to do your own due diligence, and this means searching the Internet and gathering as many names as possible to draw up a good list. Doing so helps you weigh your options and make a well-informed decision.
Listed below are a few important factors for you to carefully consider when searching for the top urologist for your care.
Location
If your condition warrants surgery or multiple visits to your urologist, you wouldn’t want to choose one whose office requires a two-hour travel just for you to get there.
Finding a urologist whose office is located close to where you live or work is especially helpful if you have mobility or transportation issues. This also helps you ensure you can show up for all of your appointments.
Credentials
Board certification tells you that your urologist is equipped with the necessary training, skills, and experience to provide decent quality of care.
Sites like Healthgrades.com and certificationmatters.org are useful resources. Search the urologist by name to verify their education, level of experience, and board certification status.
Also, it proves prudent to check whether the urologist has no history of malpractice claims or disciplinary actions. You can use the Federation of State Medical Boards (FSMB) website to do a background check on your urologist.
Bedside Manner and Communication Style
As with choosing any other type of medical professional to work with, you need to consider a urologist’s bedside manner and communication style. Pick a urologist with whom you can comfortably entrust your care, who takes the time to clearly explain your condition and treatment options, and who shows genuine concern for your health and well-being.
However, you wouldn’t be able to ascertain these unless you talk to them in person. This means you would have to schedule an appointment with them.
During your appointment with the urologist, notice how they talk and their body language. If you don’t feel comfortable talking to them or you’re having misgivings about their ability to deliver your desired treatment outcome, it may be time to move on with the other prospects on your list.
Top Urologist in Phoenix, AZ.
At Ironwood Urology, our board-certified and fellowship-trained urologist, Dr. Desidero Avila, Jr., is dedicated to providing the highest quality of care for male infertility, Peyronie’s disease, low testosterone, and all the other conditions affecting the male reproductive system. Dr. Avila has established an excellent reputation for helping countless men in Phoenix and neighboring areas successfully recover from their conditions and live healthy lives.
To learn more about our men’s health services or arrange a consultation with Dr. Avila, call us at (480) 961-2323 (Phoenix office) or (480) 664-0261 (Gilbert office). You may also use our appointment request form. We look forward to seeing you soon!
