You’ve found a potential podiatrist. Now what? There are still a few things you need to know and questions you need to ask before you make an appointment, like:
Is the practice accepting new patients? It’s not unheard of for established practices to stop accepting new patients. If they’re full, ask if the podiatrist would be able to make a referral to one of his or her colleagues.
Where is the practice located? Oftentimes people like their health care providers to be conveniently located near their home, school, work, etc.
Is the office handicap accessible?
What are their office hours? You want to be sure their hours work with your schedule. Some practices offer extended early, late and weekend hours to accommodate busy schedules.
How long does it take to get an appointment? What about emergency appointments? If your issue is pressing, you might be better off checking somewhere else.
Does the office have X-ray and a lab on-site? Having to go elsewhere for certain services might be an inconvenience. You might want to look for an office that does offer onsite services.
What hospitals and surgical centers is the practice associated with? Are those the places you’d choose if you needed to go to the hospital or have surgery?
Who covers for the podiatrist when he or she is out of the office?
Is the podiatrist board qualified and certified? This becomes even more important if you’re working with a podiatric surgeon. If you’re getting surgery, ask how many times and how often they have performed the procedure.
