How to Choose the Right Specialist Doctor: 8 Tips to Know

When you need to see a specialist, chances are you rely on your GP to refer you to someone. But while you should always consider your GP's recommendations, you don't need to stick with their referral if you don't feel like it's the right fit.

It's more important to find a specialist you feel comfortable with, who has experience managing your condition, and who you feel is well-suited to treat your symptoms.

So, how should you go about it? Here's what you need to consider.

8 tips to choose the right specialist in Singapore

There are hundreds of specialist doctors in Singapore, and many of them will be familiar with common symptoms caused by different conditions. For example, if you're suffering from ongoing stomach pain, you might need to see a gastroenterologist (a specialist in digestive health) or a gynaecologist (a specialist in women's health).

If you've got back pain, you might need to see an orthopaedic surgeon (specialist in treating injuries to the bones and muscles), neurologist (specialist in brain and spinal cord diseases) or neurosurgeon (specialist in surgery of the brain and spinal cord). Without an initial diagnosis, you could easily hop around several different specialists before finding your answer.

Start your search with this step-by-step guide to selecting the right specialist for you.

Step 1: Ask your GP or family doctor

Your GP or family doctor is most familiar with your medical history. They will be able to help give you an initial diagnosis, or at least recommend which type of specialist you should seek a diagnosis from next, whether that's a cardiologist, oncologist, orthopaedic surgeon, neurologist, or any of the other hundreds of specialist types out there.

Understanding the underlying causes of your symptoms is the first step in the right direction for further treatment.

Step 2: Read up on articles on credible websites

Want to understand more about your condition before you choose the specialist for you? Luckily, there are many reputable websites you can use to find out the facts, including how your condition is usually treated. You can always start by searching through the Health Plus website for information – our doctors regularly write guides on specific conditions or treatments.

Becoming more familiar with your own condition will help you work out exactly what type of specialist you want to speak to, as well as the treatment options you would like to discuss.

Step 3: Check your health insurance coverage

You need to know what your health insurance covers before you start contacting doctors. Insurance policies will differ in coverage, co-payment, deductibles, in-panel doctors, and terms & conditions.

This may have a huge impact on your ensuing research, so don't skip this step. Check with your insurer if you aren't sure what's covered and what's not. Some questions you may want to ask your insurance agent:

• Which are the specialists doctors in the panel network?
• Is pre-authorisation needed?
• What is the estimated bill?
• What is the average out-of-pocket cost?
• Are the procedure under any price guarantee or have transparent pricing?
• Is the hospital able to answer my questions about insurance?

Step 4: Research your specialist’s backgrounds and clinical interests

The time has come to delve deeper into your options! Doing your due diligence can help you find a doctor that specialises in your condition.

Take time to review each doctor’s qualifications, clinical interests and treatment approach.

For example, a 60-year-old man with colorectal or lung cancer may have a multi-disciplinary cancer care team that may include a cancer specialist, medical oncologist, radiation oncologist or general surgeon. Allied health professionals such as a dietitian, physiotherapist, or psychologist may also be involved as part of a holistic treatment plan.

Treatment may involve chemotherapy, radiotherapy, immunotherapy, targeted therapy, surgery, or a combination of approaches. As doctors within the same specialty may focus on different areas, look for an oncologist or surgeon with relevant experience in managing colorectal cancer and the treatments you may need. Techniques such as minimally invasive surgery, precision oncology, or proton therapy may be suitable for certain cancers.

Finding a specialist with a clinical interest in your condition may mean that they are more familiar with managing your condition.

Step 5: Determine your specialist preferences

Know that you would feel more comfortable seeing a female gynaecologist than a male one? Need to make sure your doctor has a lovely bedside manner? Want to make sure that they have a specific qualification, or use a certain treatment method? That's OK.

Your preferences are 100% your own, and you should stick to them if you can. Make a list of what is important to you and use it as a checklist to filter your search. You might not be able to determine some things until you have a chance to meet in person, but you can begin to at least make a shortlist of potential specialists. You may also want to consider any recommendations or reviews from friends, family or social media. AI platforms like ChatGPT is an additional information source, however, it is important to check AI answers for accuracy.

Remember that some in-demand doctors may have long waiting lists for appointments. If that's going to be a problem, you should check out how long you'd need to wait before you add them to your list.

Step 6: Consider the location

Depending on how far you are comfortable travelling to and from appointments, you should filter out any specialists who aren't based in the right location.

For example, if you know you don't want to travel for more than half an hour to see your oncologist every week, you should factor that into your search and look for specialists closer to home.

It might feel frustrating to remove suitable doctors from your shortlist, but you can always consider them in the future if you still can't find the right fit near you.

Step 7: Make an enquiry

Still not sure? Let us help you! For a specialist appointment at Mount Elizabeth Hospitals, Gleneagles or Parkway East Hospital, make an enquiry. Our staff can help connect you with a suitable specialist according to your symptoms or condition.

We can help you to set up an initial appointment with a specialist. From there, you can evaluate whether they are the right fit for you.

Step 8: Go for your appointment and review further

Making an appointment with the first choice on your list doesn't mean there's no going back. You can still switch to a different specialist later down the line. So, with that in mind, use your first appointment as an opportunity to evaluate the following:

• Were you happy with the waiting time to get an appointment?
• Did you feel the doctor and staff were helpful and polite?
• Did you feel comfortable during your visit?
• Did the doctor listen to your concerns and evaluate your medical history thoroughly?
• Did the doctor answer your questions clearly and address your concerns?
• Did you feel comfortable with their proposed course of action?

If the answer to any of those questions is 'no', you can seek a second opinion or consult another specialist.