Choose a Gastroenterologist

To find the right gastroenterologist, start by asking your primary doctor, family, and friends for a referral. You can also search for one on your national board or association of gastroenterology, or ask your insurer for a list of covered providers. Evaluate your prospective physicians by checking their credentials, searching for reviews, checking their business practices, and finding out about their area of specialization. Once you've chosen a gastroenterologist, make sure they accept your insurance plan and that any necessary procedures are covered.

Steps

Finding Gastroenterologists

1. Get a referral. Ask your primary care doctor if they can recommend a gastroenterologist. See if your friends, family, or other members of your social circle can offer you a referral.
   • If you know anyone who required the same procedure or has the same illness as you, ask them if they would recommend their gastroenterologist.
   • Try to get more than one referral so you have options.
2. Search a national gastroenterology board or association. You can also check the website of your nation’s board, college, or association of gastroenterology. Navigate to their website and look for a search tool.
   • For example, if you live in the United States, you can use the American College of Gastroenterology’s physician locator service.
3. Look for a conveniently located gastroenterologist. Keep location in mind when you put together your list of potential gastroenterologists. Look for offices and hospitals that are close to your home, easy to locate, and have convenient parking.
   • If you need someone to drive you home after an outpatient procedure or require immediate treatment, you’ll want your gastroenterologist to be conveniently located.
4. Take gender into account. Consider if you’d be more comfortable seeing a gastroenterologist who’s the same gender as you. Additionally, some gastroenterologists specialize in male or female anatomy, so you should look for potential caregivers who are best suited to your unique needs.
   • Check a hospital or private practice’s website to find information about a potential gastroenterologist’s area of expertise.

Evaluating Gastroenterologists

1. Verify potential gastroenterologists’ credentials. Make sure your potential gastroenterologists are board certified and formally trained. You can find their certifications online or posted at their practice.
   • In addition to a three year residency, a gastroenterologist must complete a two to three year fellowship for specialized training. You can find information about prospective gastroenterologists’ credentials on your national board or association’s website.
2. Look online for reviews and patient satisfaction surveys. Many physician private practices and hospitals have profiles on review websites, such as Yelp. Search for your prospective gastroenterologist on specific review sites, and run a general search on a search engine. You can also contact the office or hospital and ask if they can provide patient satisfaction surveys or testimonials.
   • Remember that online reviews aren't always objective or authoritative, so take them with a grain of salt.
3. Check with your Better Business Bureau or Chamber of Commerce. Contact your local business boards or view their websites. Look for your prospective gastroenterologists’ private practices or for their hospital and check their rating.
   • A Better Business Bureau or Chamber of Commerce rating will give you information about your prospective physicians’ business practices.
   • You can also get a referral to a gastroenterologist from a Better Business Bureau or Chamber of Commerce.
4. Ask about their experience with your specific procedure or illness. A good gastroenterologist should have years of training and plenty of experience performing procedures like colonoscopies. If you have a specific disorder, you should contact your prospective physicians to ensure they specialize in your illness.
   • For example, if you’re having a colonoscopy, you should choose a gastroenterologist who performs more than 100 procedures per year. They should routinely remove any polyps they find during the colonoscopies they perform.
   • If you have a specific disorder, your best option is to get a referral from your primary doctor.
5. Evaluate your potential physicians' communication styles. Have a conversation with a prospective gastroenterologist to get a feel for their personality and bedside manner. Choose one who makes time for you, communicates clearly, and thoughtfully engages your questions.
   • Ask their office if the physician can spare a minute or two for a quick phone or in-person conversation.
   • Ask the gastroenterologist questions about your required procedure: "Will I need to be sedated? Do I need to fast before the procedure? Are there any potential complications?"
   • If you feel that they're rushing you or using unfamiliar, unapproachable jargon, try to find another specialist.

Consulting Your Insurer

1. Get a list of covered specialists from your insurer. In some nations, such as the United States, insurance coverage should be a primary concern when you build and evaluate a list of potential gastroenterologists. You won’t want to choose a caregiver who’s out of your insurance network. If you’re concerned about coverage, you can start your search by asking your insurer for a list of gastroenterologists who accept your insurance plan.
2. Contact your insurer to verify that your gastroenterologist is covered. If you’ve found a gastroenterologist that you like, ask them if they accept your insurance plan. You should also get in touch with your insurer to confirm you’re covered.
   • When you call your insurer, ask for the name and position of the representative with whom you speak. Keep these and your phone call’s other details in your records in case you have any problems getting your services covered.
3. Ask your insurer if any procedures require prior approval. To Avoid-Surprise-Medical-Bills, look over your insurance policy or call your insurer to find out if a colonoscopy or other procedure requires prior approval. For any procedure, you should also ensure any other specialist or technician, like an anesthesiologist, is in your network.
   • To be completely sure, it’s best to ask the hospital to provide you a list of everyone who could take any part in your procedure, then ask your insurer if those individuals are in-network. Tell the hospital you only want to be seen by in-network medical professionals.

Sources and Citations

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