Doctor Speed Dating

Finding a doctor can be a daunting task, filled with uncertainty and frustration. You can ask friends for recommendations, but there’s no guarantee that just because your friend likes a doctor, you will too. What if your personalities don’t mesh? What if you prefer a different bedside manner? The only way to really know a doctor is to meet the candidate in person, to try him or her out.

Finding a doctor can be like dating, or more accurately, a blind date. The problem is that, unlike a blind date, it’s much harder to quit seeing your doctor if the “first date” doesn’t go well. Relationships with doctors can be long term and difficult to end. I recently found myself in this situation. I had been referred to a doctor by my primary care physician. He was an excellent doctor, but I never truly felt comfortable with the care he gave me. I went on an extensive search for a new doctor, scouring websites and reading countless reviews. It wasn’t easy, and it took a great deal of time. Still, I wasn’t sure until our first “date” if she was going to be right for me. Luckily, she was, but that’s not always the case.

Most people don’t have the luxury of going “shopping” for doctors. It’s time consuming and expensive. Enter the solution. Texas Health Presbyterian Flower Mound is offering an innovative approach to finding a doctor. They are hosting a series of Doc Shops, where patients can meet face-to-face with doctors, outside of their offices, to find one that meets their needs. It’s like speed dating — for doctors! You get five minutes with each doctor to learn more about their practice, attitude, and personality. When the buzzer goes off, you move on to the next doctor. Wow, what a novel concept! I hope it catches on at other “Presby” hospitals.

The next Doc Shop is scheduled on April 14 in Flower Mound. To learn more, check out their website here.