A physiatrist is a healthcare professional dealing with conditions affecting the bones, nerves, joints, ligaments, tendons, muscles, etc. Physiatrists are trained to consider the different aspects of an individual’s life that may be affected by a long-term disability or health condition and provide treatment and rehabilitation to help them carry out their daily functions as independently as possible. Below are some tips to help one find the best physiatrists nearby:
Look for physiatrists through insurance plans
Most insurance plans offer coverage for services provided by physiatrists and may cover specific clinics as part of their policies. Insurance policies by reputed companies provide coverage for services offered by licensed healthcare professionals. Thus, it is a good idea to check out the list of physiatrists who are a part of one’s insurance policy network and opt for one of them based on their expertise and experience levels.
Ask for referrals from the general practitioner
Perhaps nobody else understands one’s health and family history better than one’s general practitioner. Moreover, primary care physicians typically attend several meetings and conferences for doctors and have several contacts of experts from different healthcare subfields. Thus, asking one’s general practitioner for a referral list of physiatrists can help one shortlist reliable and qualified health professionals. Each clinic from this list should then be contacted for an in-depth understanding of their services, commercials, etc. before a physiatrist is finalized.
Look for specific expertise
It helps to look for physiatrists with specific expertise. For example, individuals grappling with neck pain due to an injury should look for physiatrists with considerable experience in this subfield. Contacting the physiatrist or clinic beforehand and inquiring about the physiatrist’s specializations can help one make an informed decision.
Search for physiatrists providing online as well as offline consultation
Today, online consultations have become increasingly popular and convenient for healthcare professionals and patients seeking various healthcare services. Specifically, such virtual consultations enable one to seek help from highly specialized professionals based in other cities or states. While a face-to-face consultation is always recommended, online consultations at later stages can help individuals to continue receiving support from the comfort of their homes.
Ask questions
Ideally, physiatrists should be transparent about the subfields in which they specialize, as well as the ones in which they do not have any expertise. Such questions also help one gauge the physiatrist’s communication skills and willingness to help clients. One should also be open about symptoms, clinical history, and any underlying cause of one’s physical condition, such as an accident or injury, which can help physiatrists understand the condition better and come up with a definite intervention.
Check out online reviews
Online reviews of physiatrists and clinics play a crucial role in evaluating their genuineness and efficiency. It is a good idea to check out online reviews on different platforms, in addition to contacting one’s family members and friends for feedback on the interventions and approaches used by the physiatrist.
Check out the physiatrist’s qualifications and experience
A physiatrist undergoes extensive training in the graduation and postgraduation years to obtain extensive knowledge of musculoskeletal functions, neurological disorders, anatomy, biomechanics, etc. It is imperative to look for physiatrists with the required qualifications, licenses, and extensive experience in the field. One should also ensure that the physiatrist is able to apply this knowledge and expertise to provide the required treatment. One way to gauge a physiatrist’s practical efficacy is to ask questions about one’s diagnosis, prognosis, post-treatment care to be taken, and the rehabilitation approaches recommended.
The key to finding a good physiatrist nearby is to understand the physiatry services offered by different clinics, the cost of these services vis-a-vis one’s budget, and the physiatrist’s expertise and experience levels.