Nephrology is a particular part of medical care, which is a specialty of medicine and pediatrics that concerns itself with the kidneys. Doctors specialized in nephrology are known as nephrologists. The main job of a nephrologist is to treat all diseases related to the kidney, but they are also well versed in treating all the ailments in different parts of the body caused by kidney dysfunction.
If you are suffering from a problem related to your kidney and if that problem is far from the reach of your primary care doctor then soon, he/she will refer you to a nephrologist.
Many people search for doctors based on their locality. As an example, if they are living in Dubai then they will only search for a nephrologist in Dubai. To ease your burden of selecting the best nephrologist, we have compiled a list of things which you need to keep in mind:
Go through a patient satisfaction survey
Many people make the mistake of not going through what others have to say about your chosen nephrologist, but that’s not the right way to move forward with your selection of the best doctor. You should always have a look at what others have to say about the doctor’s medical practice and his way of dealing with various cases. The patient satisfaction survey specifically asks people about their experience with scheduling appointments, wait times, office environment, level of medical care, skill, and expertise of the doctor. You can quickly know how much time doctors spend with patients and how well they care for each of them. So the instrumental patient satisfaction survey will give you in-depth knowledge about the doctor.
Go through the communication style
Source: https://www.hopkinsmedicine.org/
It is crucial to choose a nephrologist with you whom you are comfortable with, and for that the right communication style from the doctor’s end becomes paramount. When you first meet a nephrologist, ask a few basic questions and notice how they respond and proceed with further discussion. You should feel engaged rather than rushed while talking to your doctor because a good doctor will always be interested in knowing your case and understanding the details. You should always go with the nephrologist who is interested in knowing your case, gives preference to your thoughts and choice of treatments, and provide proper time in understanding your situation.
Know the experience and reviews
Experience is one of the most important factors to consider while choosing a medical healthcare service because an experienced doctor will have a better success rate and they will also be well-versed in dealing with different types of cases with different situations and conditions. You can ask your chosen nephrologist about their experience, and if you are not comfortable with directly asking, then you can seek help from the internet to find out how long the doctor has been practicing nephrology. Along with the years of experience, you should also take a look at the reviews and ratings of the doctor as there are various websites which show unbiased ratings and reviews of different doctors.
Take a look at credentials and certifications
Along with years of experience and communication style, you should also look at the board certification of the chosen doctor as the label of certification will give you assurance about the skill, experience and success rate of the doctor.
So, use the tips mentioned in this blog post and choose the best nephrologist for treating your kidney dysfunction in the best possible way.
