When You Moved to TN How Did You Find A Doctor? (Oak Ridge: insurance, neighborhood)

[LauraC]

I'm not interested in specific doctor recommendations. I just want to know how those who moved to Eastern Tennessee from anyplace else found their general practitioner/family doctor if you didn't have anyone here to guide you? Did that method (whatever it was) work for you or did you have to change doctors a few times?

My insurance company will send me a book of their preferred practitioners when I move but I don't know how to make a decision from those on their list. When I moved to my current location, new work friends gave me advice but I'll be retired when I move, this time.

My current doctor doesn't know anyone in the area I will be moving to so I can't rely on him.

[akm4]

Laura-

I treated finding a dr. much like I did finding a dry cleaner or vet. I asked around. We were lucky enough to have met so many people in our new neighborhood, church and school who asked if we needed anything once we got settled. I asked those with great hair who their stylist was. School moms offered pediatrician advice, etc.

Another good resource can be other doctors. For instance, my kids' pediatrician told me about this great doc who had just gone into private practice. She's now my primary and does a wonderful job. My husband's dentist sent us to a fantastic orthodontist. Another medical professional's opinion carried a lot of weight with me. Ultimately, we're still the "consumer" and should shop around for the right fit for us, but asking around can be a great start.

Good luck!

[LauraC]

Originally Posted by akm4

Laura-

I treated finding a dr. much like I did finding a dry cleaner or vet. I asked around. We were lucky enough to have met so many people in our new neighborhood, church and school who asked if we needed anything once we got settled. I asked those with great hair who their stylist was. School moms offered pediatrician advice, etc.

Another good resource can be other doctors. For instance, my kids' pediatrician told me about this great doc who had just gone into private practice. She's now my primary and does a wonderful job. My husband's dentist sent us to a fantastic orthodontist. Another medical professional's opinion carried a lot of weight with me. Ultimately, we're still the "consumer" and should shop around for the right fit for us, but asking around can be a great start.

Good luck!

Thanks for this advice. Hopefully, I will meet people I can ask within 3 months of moving. I have to ask my current doctor if he writes me a prescription before I move, will they fill it in another state. If so, that will buy me some additional time to ask around my new area.

[jmarkey]

That shouldn't be a problem. I had a prescription my old doctor wrote out in February just in case I needed it. I dug it out this week and got it filled at Walgreen's without a hitch.

[LauraC]

Originally Posted by jmarkey

That shouldn't be a problem. I had a prescription my old doctor wrote out in February just in case I needed it. I dug it out this week and got it filled at Walgreen's without a hitch.

Good to know, thanks! I saw a Walgreen's when I was in Oak Ridge, too.