A urologist is a medical doctor who diagnoses and treats diseases and conditions of the urinary tract and the male reproductive system. If you are having difficulties, such as symptoms of persistent UTIs, or wondering if your hormone levels are running low, you need a top-notch urologist to carefully and accurately assess your condition and plan your treatment. Here are some ways to decide which is the right urologist for you and your health needs.
Talk With Your Primary Care Physician
Your primary care physician is one of your best sources for medical information and referrals. Your PCP can help you define and list your symptoms and determine what kind of specialist can help treat the issue. For instance, if you have recurring and severe flank discomfort, you probably have kidney stones and need pain relief. You also need to resolve possible damage stones can do to your kidneys, ureters, and bladder and prevent future occurrences.
Your doctor will likely recommend seeing a urologist for such issues. Get a recommendation or two for a urologist in your area who may be best to meet your needs.
Talk With Friends or Family Members
Most likely, you know someone who has seen a urologist. Maybe a colleague had a vasectomy, or a neighbor has hypertension due to kidney issues.
Ask these people who they see and if they had good experiences with the providers. You’ll get straight answers and good information about the office atmosphere, the doctor’s bedside manner, and treatment results. Based on what you hear, you may find out about a doctor who is excellent and wants to consider seeing them for yourself.
Research The Urologists on Your List
After you have a list of urologists based on your discussions with your primary care physician and family and friends, you’ll need to start researching each one. Start by researching each doctor’s professional background. Here’s what to focus on:
Education and Board-Certification
Urologists must graduate from an accredited medical school and do residency training–a year of internship for general practice–and then several more years to qualify for licensing and to practice in their medical specialty. Also, find out if the doctor is board-certified by the American Board of Urology.
Board certification ensures that physicians who practice in a particular area of medical specialty have the highest level of knowledge. They must pursue continuing education, staying current on hands-on skills, as well as diagnostic and treatment expertise. In other words, board-certified doctors give patients excellent care with the best outcomes possible and help foster research and innovations in a wide range of healthcare fields. Go to the American Board of Medical Specialties (ABMS) website to verify a prospective urologist’s board certification.
Services Offered
You would not try to get your car’s transmission service at a shop that only does auto body repair and painting, nor would you visit a convenience grocery store for a specialty item, such as a wedding cake.
The same principle applies when selecting a urologist. If you are a man, see a urologist who specializes in men’s health issues, such as low testosterone or vasectomy. This type of urologist is also called a men’s health expert. Women must look for services, such as bladder sling procedures and others particular to their urological anatomy and diseases or conditions, from a gynecologist or a women’s health doctor.
Make sure the urologist you are considering offers a wide range of treatments, including the ones you may need. Check the services section of the doctor’s website to get an idea of the treatments they offer.
Patient Reviews
Many people use Google, Zocdoc, Healthgrades, and other review websites to learn about real patients’ experiences with doctors and healthcare providers. These reviews may give you a feel for the office atmosphere, the length of wait times for appointments, the support staff’s friendliness, the doctor’s bedside manner, and other aspects of doctor visits.
Select a Conveniently Located Doctor
A convenient clinic location will cut down on your travel and expenses and limit the amount of time you take off work to get to appointments. This is particularly important if you need multiple appointments for treatment.
Book a Consultation With The Urologist
The best way to finish your search is by scheduling consultations with each urologist who you are considering. Call each clinic and see if you can schedule a consultation to meet the doctors. Assess if you like the urologist’s bedside manner–that is, are your questions and concerns fully and respectfully addressed? Does the doctor offer more than one treatment option? Is the physician and office staff friendly? Are you greeted and shown to a clean treatment room within a reasonable period?
If you feel uncomfortable in any way, move on to another provider on your shortlist. The last thing you want is a healthcare provider or practice that makes you feel less than well-served or respected.
Verify Your Health Insurance Coverage
Ask both the urologist’s office and your health insurance provider if the doctor’s services will be covered by your insurance plan and what copays you have for in-office visits, X-rays, and lab tests. If you are considering an elective procedure, such as vasectomy, ask if it is covered in whole, in part, or not at all. These queries will give you peace of mind regarding your financial obligations.
Top Urologist in Phoenix and Gilbert, Arizona
At Ironwood Urology, our board-certified and fellowship-trained urologist is Dr. Desiderio Avila, Jr. He is an expert in sexual and reproductive issues for men of all ages. He is highly skilled and experienced in robotic and microsurgical techniques and helps men regain sexual performance and fertility.
To learn more about Dr. Avila and his team, please contact us at (480) 961-2323, or request an informative visit online. When you meet Dr. Avila, you can expect great patient education and a bedside manner that is down-to-earth and friendly. Also, he is bilingual, being fluent in both English and Spanish. We are eager to meet your urological and men’s health needs.
