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18
• MEDICAL GUIDE 2008
On Choosing An Obstetrician
M (MS) - Due to the
w increasing cost of liabil
ity insurance for obstet
rics practices, finding an
obstetrician is becoming an
increasingly difficult thing.
But there are still plenty of
worthy candidates out there,
and choosing the right person
for you just takes a little bit of
legwork,.
In your search for a wom
en's specialty doctor, it's im
portant to first realize that not
all gynecologists are obstetri
cians. While the Ob/Gyn title
seems to follow many doc
tors' names, some, because
of the aforementioned rising
costs in liability insurance,
are strictly sticking to gyne
cology these days. So if you
were looking for "one-stop
shopping" so to say, you may
need to do a little more re
search into doctor choices.
1. Referrals: When select
ing a doctor, a good place to
begin is with referrals from
friends and family, provided
these people live close by.
Talk to new mothers and find
out what they have to say
about their doctor or group
practice. Remember, though,
that everyone has different
preferences in doctors, so this
is merely a jumping-off point
to finding the right obstetri
cian fit for you.
2. Proximity: Take your list
of referrals and see where
the doctors are located. Most
women desire a doctor who is
relatively close to home. Hav
ing a doctor in close proxim
ity can be an advantage when
the latter part of the preg
nancy requires weekly trips
to the doctor. With an obste-
BREASTS
touch, and then increase
pressure so that you can feel
the deeper tissue, down to
your ribcage.
Step Jil Finally, feel your
breasts while you are stand-
I 1
#W
■
trician close by, it's
easier to schedule ap
pointments that may
fit into your day, with
a quick return trip
home or to work.
3. Insurance car
rier. You may find a
doctor that was highly referred and is
close tb home, but doesn't take your in
surance plan. That is why it is essential
to visit the Web site of your insurance
carrier during the research process and
see what doctors are affiliated. Just be
cause a doctor's name appears on insur
ance lists is not proof enough that he or
she accepts your plan. Some insurance
company Web sites are infrequently up
dated. Other times a doctor who once
practiced alone may have accepted your
insurance, but now that he or she is part
of a group practice, the insurance is no
longer accepted. Call the office and veri
fy that they accept your insurance before
getting your heart set on a doctor.
"Three of my friends recommended a
particular group practice by my home,
and my insurance carrier Web site listed
them as accepting my plan," offers Don
na in Wisconsin. "But when I called the
office to make an appointment it was a
big let down. They really didn't accept
CONT. FROM PG. 17
ing or sitting. Many women find that the
easiest way to feel their breasts is when
their skin is wet and slippery, so they
like to do this step in the shower. Cover
your entire breast, using the same hand
movements described in Step 4.
Finding the right obstetrician can be difficult
with the rise in liability insurance for caregivers.
Be aware that you may not find the "perfect"
provider, but you CAN find one that suits your
most improtant criteria, and one that will make
you feel safe for yourself AND the baby.
pitals in the area. That means they have
privileges to those hospitals, and that is
where you'll be sent to have your baby
or for any routine medical tests not han
dled at the Ob's office.
"I absolutely loved my Ob/Gyn," says
Natalie in Pennsylvania. "But I didn't
think to factor in his affiliated hospi
tal. When I gave birth to my daughter,
I wasn't so thrilled with the care and
amenities of the hospital. Now I'm con
sidering looking for a new doctor - and
hospital - for my next pregnancy."
Make sure you are comfortable with
the hospital affiliation. Don't be afraid
to visit the hospital and see what the
DID YOU KNOW?
(MS) - Contrary to popular belief, no evi-
dence exists to support the notion that the common cold is contracted from exposure
to cold weather or from feelings of being chilled or overheated. In addition, there is
also no evidence showing that exercise or diet have an impact on one's likelihood to
catch a cold. Instead, the common cold, which is largely associated with winter and
the colder weather winter often brings, can be traced to more
than 200 different viruses, many of which can be classified as
rhinoviruses. Surprisingly, these rhinoviruses are most active
in fall, spring and summer, putting to bed another myth that rm/li
colds come only in winter. Though there are more than 110 if
distinct types of rhinoviruses, they rarely produce serious ill- \
nesses. While viruses are responsible for a great many of the frSajjßP
world's colds, research also suggests allergic diseases that "** ,*
affect the nose and throat and even psychological stress I
can impact a person's chances of getting a cold. * jU |i|Li
SUPPLEMENT TO THE HOUSTON HOME TOURNAL
my insurance after
all, and I was back to
the drawing board."
4. Gender: Think
about whether you
feel more comfort
able with a male or fe
male doctor. This will
also weigh into your
choice.
5. Hospital affili
ation: Most obstetri
cians are affiliated
with one or more hos
maternity ward looks like, and watch
the interaction of staff and doctors.
6. Personality and philosophy: Feel
free to schedule a consultation with the
doctor you're considering. This way
you can get an idea of his or her bedside
manner and discuss policies concerning
prenatal care, labor and delivery and
how the practice is run. You want to find
a doctor who will be open to your line of
thinking and be supportive. For exam
ple, some doctors are sticklers for weight
gain during pregnancy. Others are more
laid back and aren't as concerned about
a little extra gain. Some doctors have
firm beliefs on circumcision, breastfeed
ing, episiotomies, and the use of drugs
during childbirth. You want to ensure
your philosophies meld.
7. The staff and office: The obste
trician won't be the only person with
whom you interact when visiting the
office. You also have to feel comfortable
with the nurses and administrative staff.
Again, a visit to the office can give you
a good idea whether the staff is friendly,
professional, and values your privacy.
While there, you can also see if there is
a long wait time for visits, something to
consider especially if you'll be there fre
quently during peak times, such as after
work.
Another point of advice is to choose
a doctor who is board certified by the
American Board of Obstetrics and Gy
necologists (ABOG). Visit www.abog.
org for more information.
For those women who prefer alternate
care, a qualified nurse-midwife or a gen
eral care doctor who also provides pre
natal care might be the way to go.
COMMON COLD
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