Before contacting a physician

Where can a search for care begin?

Use a referral for a lead, a board for a record, and a direct inquiry for the unanswered details.

Start with a referral

Ask a doctor or nurse who already treats you who could help with your health problem. Describe what is bothering you and ask what kind of appointment you need.

Start with a board record

For board links, consult the Federation of State Medical Boards: its directory gathers the state entries.

Use it to reach the board for the place where the visit will happen.

Start with a direct question

Before paying, ask who would assess you, what the visit covers and whether other options can be discussed. Keep a copy of the reply.

These are ways to start an inquiry, rather than a list of people offering a product.

A pale stone walkway splitting around a low planted bed in an empty courtyard. — A referral, a public record and a direct inquiry are different starting paths; each still leaves questions to ask.

Search for the problem as well as the product

Try describing the reason for the visit in ordinary words. Ask for an assessment rather than an agreement to provide a named treatment.

If an inquiry begins with a treatment menu, bring it back to the question: “What would you need to know about me before discussing options?”

Take a name to the public record

The record can show the doctor’s current license status alongside any penalties imposed by the board; how much detail is public varies by state.

A recommendation and a license lookup answer different questions. Keep the recommendation as a lead and check the named doctor separately.