Finding the right doctor

Finding the right doctor

Never needed to have a regular doctor before? You do now – even if you’re doing well, you’ll need to check in with your doctor every few months for the rest of your life.

Do you have a regular doctor, but he or she doesn’t deal with HIV very often? Time for a new doctor – the new drugs are good, but using them takes skill, and there’s lots an HIV doctor has to know about beside the drugs.

Is your doctor out of touch or hard to talk to? You need to talk with him or her about the problem, and if things don’t get better, maybe you need to change doctors. Of course you need someone with the right medical skills, but you also need someone who will meet you as a whole person who happens to have a medical condition, not as a passive someone who’s broken and needs to be fixed.

If you need a doctor and you’re near a city, you may want to check out individual doctors who see a lot of HIV patients or large, multi-specialty group practices affiliated with teaching hospitals. If you don’t have insurance, you may be able to get excellent and affordable care at a community health center (CHC). If you’re not near a city, finding the right doctor may be a challenge. Whether you live in the city or the country, you may need help to find a doctor who’s right for you. HIV service organizations can help you look. Click HERE for a list of HIV/AIDS service organizations in your state.

Always remember, you are in charge and your doctor works for you. When your doctor wants to begin or end a treatment, ask why. If you don’t understand something he or she tells you, insist on an explanation – you’re always free to say, “I refuse to pretend I understand what you just said.” If your doctor isn’t communicating with you, find someone else.