How to Get the Most Value from Your Appointment
Your relationship with your doctor is a partnership. The better able you are to communicate your needs and understand your options, the more productive your appointment will be and the more likely you are to get the treatment you need.
Before the appointment, research your condition and the treatment options available. Write down your symptoms and their dates of onset. List the questions you want answered.
The time you have with your doctor is all too brief. A little preparation will help you make the most of it.
Accepting New Patients: Yes
What to Know Before You Go
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Establishing a Partnership With Your Doctor
Choose a doctor with whom you are comfortable talking. Your doctor may be helping you make life and death decisions, so you must feel that your doctor cares about you, listens to you, answers your questions, and helps you understand. You should not feel afraid to discuss anything with your doctor or feel intimidated in any way.
Talk with your doctor about your values and preferences regarding care. Do you prefer to try more conservative therapies first? Do you wish to complement traditional therapies with alternative therapies? Will your doctor support your preferences?
Find a doctor who supports your information needs. If you prefer to be well informed about your condition, find a doctor who will provide additional resources for you and who will allow time during your appointment for you to ask questions.
Talk with your doctor about how involved you wish to be in making decisions. Do you want to know all your options before making a decision? Does your doctor support you seeking a second opinion?
The Right Doctor in the Right Place
In a perfect world, the right doctor would be right around the corner. In reality, you may need to sacrifice some convenience to find the doctor who best meets your needs. If this doctor isn’t everything you’re looking for, search for nearby doctors.
Bear in mind also that many doctors work out of multiple offices. When you call to make your appointment, be sure to confirm the location.
How to Select the Right Hospital
If you should need to go to a hospital for care, you and your doctor should discuss which hospital provides the best care for your medical needs. Some hospitals may be better equipped and have expertise in performing certain procedures.
To evaluate a hospital, you’ll want to check the hospital’s experience in treating people with your condition, the quality rating they received for any procedures you need, and their record for keeping patients safe. Discuss your hospital options with your doctor to get the best possible care available.
Why Researching Your Doctor’s Hospital Is Important
Why Researching Your Doctor’s Hospital Is Important
Healthgrades Hospital Quality RatingsCheck out the quality of care at the 2 hospitals where Dr. Wolfe has admitting privileges: |
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Saint Francis Care
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Johnson Memorial Hospital
The Right Doctor Begins Here
Whatever you’re looking for in a doctor, your search should begin here, with a study of the doctor’s background and professional qualifications. Make sure the doctor is board certified in the specialty most qualified to treat your condition. (To learn more about your treatment options, visit our partner healthsite, Better Medicine.)
Pay special attention to factors that distinguish this doctor from others you’re considering. Does the doctor have more experience treating your condition? Has the doctor received special honors—or disciplinary sanctions?
For more detail, use the Background tab.
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Care Philosophy:As a physician, I strive to provide excellent, compassionate care, working with my patients to achieve 'Best Care for a Lifetime'
- Specialties: Ear, Nose, and Throat
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Board Certifications
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Otolaryngology, 2008
- 38 years old
- Graduated in 2002, University Penn
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Procedures Performed by Dr. Stephen George Wolfe
- Thyroid Disorders
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Awards and Recognitions
Dr. Wolfe is a Healthgrades Recognized Doctor.
Finding the Best Doctor Who Is Right for You
Choosing a doctor is one of the most important and personal decisions you make. Your doctor is your partner in health and is there to guide you through many decisions about protecting your health, staying healthy, and coping with illness.
While a good doctor-patient relationship develops with time and is built on trust, you can ensure a good start but taking the time to find the best doctor who is right for you or a family member.
Start by creating a list of potential doctors. Ask family, friends, and other healthcare providers for recommendations. If you have a medical condition that requires specialty care, ask your primary care doctor to refer you to doctors who can work closely with your primary care doctor to coordinate your care.
With list in hand, take the time to do your research. Call each doctor’s office to see if he or she is accepting new patients. If so, ask for an appointment to meet and interview the doctor. Explain to the receptionist that you’d like a consult.
Consider the following when finding the best doctor for you:
- Doctor’s Credentials. Board certification is one of the most important factors to consider; it tells you that the doctor has the needed training, skills and experience to provide healthcare in their specific field. Also confirm that the doctor has no history of malpractice claims or disciplinary actions.
- Doctor’s Experience. When you’re facing health issues, experience matters. The more experience a doctor has with a condition or procedure, the better your results are likely to be.
- Gender. It is important for you to feel comfortable with your doctor’s gender because you will need to openly discuss personal information. And don’t hesitate to ask a doctor about his or her recent training and experience specifically related to your condition and your gender.
- Hospital Quality. Consider the quality of care at the hospital where the doctor can treat patients. Quality matters to you because patients at top-rated hospitals have fewer complications and better survival rates.
- Communication Style. Choose a doctor with whom you are comfortable talking and who supports your information needs.
- What Your Insurance Covers. Your insurance coverage is a practical matter. To receive the most insurance benefits and pay the least out-of-pocket for your care, you may need to choose a doctor who participates in your plan.
Your goal is finding the best doctor who suits your needs. You want to get the best care from someone you can trust and who puts you at ease.
What Patients Say About This Doctor
Similar to widely accepted government surveys, our survey asks patients about aspects of their healthcare experience that are closely linked to quality.
We report on eight measures of care, plus the ultimate compliment—patients’ willingness to recommend the doctor to their family and friends.
Learning what patients say about this doctor can give you a good sense of what your own experience might be like with this doctor.
If you’ve been treated by this doctor, please take a minute to complete the survey. Your insights can prove valuable to other patients—as well as the doctor.