“You need a good relationship with your doctor so you have someone who supports you when you’re well as well as when you’re ill,” says Sashidhar Sagi, MD, a gastroenterologist and hepatologist with Indiana University Health in Indianapolis, who specializes in treating digestive disorders like ulcerative colitis and Crohn’s disease, among others. Whether you’re looking for a doctor because you’re newly diagnosed or if you’re looking to switch change doctors because your insurance is changing, you’re moving to a new area, you’re having an issue with your current doctor, or you’ve decided to switch from your primary care doctor to a specialist, it’s important to find a doctor who will be the right fit for you.
Which Doctor Is Right for You?
The symptoms of ulcerative colitis can have a major impact on your quality of life. Finding a doctor you feel comfortable with and who knows your condition can help you get the best control of your symptoms. Start with these steps: Choose a specialist. A gastroenterologist is trained in the medical management of ulcerative colitis, and large practices often have a doctor with an IBD niche, says Gil Melmed, MD, director of clinical inflammatory bowel disease at Cedars-Sinai in Los Angeles and co-chair of the Crohn’s & Colitis Foundation of America’s IBD Qorus, a quality- of- care initiative. Gastroenterologists also do colonoscopies, which are “a very important tool for understanding, evaluating, and assessing the state of colitis, which enables treatment decisions,” or finding the right medication to address the digestive tract inflammation causing your symptoms, Dr. Melmed adds. If you live in an area with fewer choices in specialists, you can also consider seeing a colon and rectal surgeon or a primary care doctor for ulcerative colitis. Use an online directory. If you don’t know where to start to find a specialist, you can use the physician directory on the Crohn’s & Colitis Foundation of America’s website or check the websites of other associations, such as the American College of Gastroenterology. Ask for recommendations. You can also ask your current doctor for recommendations, assuming you feel comfortable doing so, says Melmed. Other people who are living with ulcerative colitis can be another valuable resource. Asking them for doctor references can help guide you to the right place. Joining an ulcerative colitis support group is a great way to network and exchange information with others who have the condition. Make some phone calls. If you have a list of doctors to try and you’re not sure which one will be best for you, it may be worth calling their offices and asking how many ulcerative colitis patients the doctor sees to get a sense of how much experience the physician has with the condition, Melmed advises. Aim for a long-term relationship. A good physician won’t just treat the disease but will treat you as a person and help you understand the impact of the condition on your quality of life, Dr. Sagi says. You’ll be seeing your physician for a long time, so it’s important to have a good working relationship. Consider a hospital system. As many as 45 percent of people with ulcerative colitis may need surgery, according to the Crohn’s & Colitis Foundation of America. It’s not necessary to get routine care at a hospital that specializes in ulcerative colitis surgery, Melmed says, but finding one within your insurance network is something to think about. As you conduct your search for the right doctor, be sure your medical records join you. “It can be tricky for a doctor to see new patients when the records aren’t available,” Melmed says. Either make sure your records precede you to the new office, or bring them with you yourself to ensure you get the best care from the start.
