Finding a New Doctor After Moving States

Steps to Find New Doctors:

1. Start Before You Move (If Possible):
   • Ask your current doctors (PCP, specialists) if they have recommendations or colleagues in your new state or city.
   • Begin researching potential providers online even before you move.
2. Check Your Health Insurance Network:
   • Your health insurance plan will have a network of doctors, hospitals, and clinics they have contracted with. Using "in-network" providers significantly reduces your out-of-pocket costs.
   • Use your insurance company's website or app – they almost always have an online "Find a Doctor" or "Provider Directory" tool. Search for PCPs (like Family Medicine, Internal Medicine, or Pediatricians for children) and any specialists you need within your network and near your new address.
   • Double-check if the doctor is accepting new patients.
   Always verify directly with the doctor's office that they accept your specific insurance plan *before* making an appointment, as online directories are not always perfectly up-to-date.
3. Seek Recommendations:
   • Ask new neighbors, colleagues, or local friends/family for recommendations.
   • Check local online community groups (Facebook, Nextdoor) for suggestions (use with discretion).
   • If you find a specialist you like, ask them for PCP recommendations, or vice-versa.
4. Research Potential Doctors:
   • Credentials & Experience: Look up the doctor's education, training, board certifications (e.g., via the American Board of Medical Specialties - ABMS), and years of experience. Healthgrades.com or the hospital's website often have profiles.
   • Specialties & Interests: Does the doctor have experience or interest in conditions relevant to you or your family?
   • Hospital Affiliations: Which hospitals can the doctor admit patients to? Are these hospitals well-regarded and convenient for you? (Check hospital ratings on sites like Healthgrades or Medicare.gov's Care Compare).
   • Patient Reviews: Read online reviews (Google, Healthgrades, Vitals, Yelp) to get a sense of patient experiences regarding bedside manner, communication, office staff helpfulness, and wait times. Take individual reviews with a grain of salt, but look for consistent patterns.
5. Consider Logistics:
   • Location & Accessibility: How far is the office from your home or work? Is parking available or is it accessible via public transport?
   • Office Hours: Do their hours align with your schedule? Do they offer any evening or weekend appointments?
   • Appointment Availability: How long is the typical wait time for a routine appointment? For urgent issues?
   • Communication: How does the office handle communication (phone, email, patient portal)? How easy is it to get questions answered or request refills?
   • Telehealth Options: Do they offer virtual visits for certain types of appointments?
6. Schedule an Initial Appointment (New Patient Visit):
   • Once you've chosen a potential PCP, call to schedule a new patient appointment. This often takes longer to get than a follow-up visit.
   • Use this first visit not just for health needs but also to see if you feel comfortable with the doctor's communication style and approach. Is it a good fit?

Transferring Medical Records:

• Once you've selected new providers, contact your previous doctors' offices.
• You will need to sign a "Release of Information" form authorizing them to send your records to the new doctor's office.
• Specify which records need to be sent (e.g., summaries, recent labs/imaging, full chart).
• Provide the complete contact information (name, address, phone, fax) for your new doctor's office.
• Follow up with both offices to ensure the records were sent and received. This process can sometimes take several weeks.
• Having your past medical history readily available helps your new doctor provide better, more continuous care.