How to Find out a Right Specialty Doctor?

As we observe today, we can see several specialty, super and sub specialty doctors in all branches. In the last 10 to 20 years we came across recent super specialties like Rhemalology, Gastroentrology Medical (DM or Surgical M.ch) and Nuclear Medicine too in Radiology MD etc. Unless the patient has enough knowledge of these specialties he/she end up in landing in a wrong choice of Doctor. We find very few doctors who can genuinely say that the disease or problem the patient is facing is not their specialty and further refer.

According to the I.M.C (Indian Medical Council) and S.M.C (State Medical Council) doctors are not supposed to advertise much. Its allowed only in nearby areas, on O.P cards, O.P wall posts or even advertise nearby places to Hospital except publicizing his/her qualifications only i.e, M.D, D.M, MC, M.ch etc. As we living in complex, crowded and thickly populated areas like my area of Bhimavaram, Eluru, Narasapur towns, unless the doctor exposes his specialty rightly ie, as recommended I.M.C or S.M.C and go for huge hoardings and pictures of body parts and people, it sometimes ass more confusion for the patients in choosing the specialty.

In the case of of corporate hospitals where 5-6 or more specialties doctors join together and start practicing their skills it is virtually different. Here the patient while getting OP (Out Patient) Registration, at the OP counter itself is guided to the right specialty doctor by an experienced, certified, or trained professional and sometimes even a doctor. In case if the same system is implemented in Government, District or Tertiary (Teaching) hospitals, it will become easy for the patients to choose the right specialty doctor. With this significance, it is highly recommended to have a medically trained person at the OP counter.

The choice of choosing a right doctor will not come across when the doctors starts private practice on their own, where they will highlight their own specialties in an ethical way. (Knowingly unknowingly, sometimes non concerned specialties also will be highlighted, which will add some confusion to the public).

In Area Hospitals or Community health centers (Mandal level), government has already appointed specialty doctors. Whenever a patient comes to the hospital automatically he is referred in the OP Doctor. If the patient comes under his area of expertise he will treat, otherwise he will refer the patient to the nearby related specialist in the same hospital.

Case Study: A person aged 37 years complaining with pain in back and left side leg and is unable to walk. The person has been suffering for past 15 days approached a doctor, who advised him on the phone to consult an Orthopedician. The Orthopedecian after seeing the patient explained him that the complaints are not related to both bones and nerves, not just bones. So he referred the patient to a Neurophysician and even returned back the consulting fee he has taken. Then the patient got admitted to a corporate hospital and got treated by a Neurophysician and recovered well. Here we can see how a sincere consultant rightly referred to the specialty doctor which has helped the patient.

As a conclusion, whenever a problem comes its always better to approach a single qualified doctor on Government or Private hospitals, who will treat by himself or refer to a right specialty doctor. This will help to get treated by the right specialty doctor than approaching anyone by yourself wasting time and money for both.