Is Your Doctor Age-Savvy?

Medical needs grow more important as we age. It's crucial that doctors treating older patients are skilled in the unique requirements of their patients.

Basic medical tenets concerning diagnosis, treatment, medication, and surgery change with older patients. For example, some patients who demonstrate confusion and mental difficulties are often misdiagnosed--the problem commonly is not a disease affecting the brain but chronic dehydration.

According to a 1996 report published by the Alliance for Aging Research, the United States has only one-third as many primary-care physicians with specialty geriatric training as it needs. The report counted 6,784 internists, psychiatrists, and family practice physicians who have become certified geriatricians. But the demands of 30 million older Americans require that at least 20,000 physicians receive training in geriatrics. Only 14 of the United States' 126 medical schools require students to receive that training.

William Cohen, former senator and chairman of the Senate Special Aging Committee, now Secretary of Defense, said, ''This report sounds an important warning that, in the face of a rapidly aging population, we are facing a severe shortage of doctors trained to manage the special healthcare needs of older persons.''

Although the report includes some alarming statistics, it is possible to receive excellent healthcare from doctors who are well versed in the specific needs of an aging population. It all depends on finding the right physician.

So how do you find an excellent doctor? Reputation usually sells itself. Ask friends and family who they see--although they may not be in a position to judge medical competency, they can point you in the right direction. Or consult the most reliable sources--other healthcare professionals. They may not want to comment on the quality of particular doctors, but they should be willing to tell you whom they see or to whom they'd send a sick relative.

Check credentials

Finding out if your doctor is "age-savvy" is similar to checking a physician's credentials in any discipline. It requires that you ask questions and conduct some research.

As the Alliance for Aging Research report states, not many doctors are board-certified geriatric specialists, but it isn't necessary to be a geriatrician to help older patients. A doctor may have continuing medical education or have done research in disciplines that are age-specific. Whatever the specialty, it's a good idea to check when the doctor was last certified or recertified by a specialty board. To be board certified, doctors in each specialty (including primary-care doctors such as family physicians and general internists) must complete a training program and pass a tough examination that requires up-to-date knowledge.

The best way to find out if your doctor is board certified is to call the American Board of Medical Specialists in Evanston, Illinois at (800) 776-CERT. You'll need your doctor's name and the ZIP code he or she practices in.

Conduct your own examination

Once you've confirmed your doctor's credentials, the next steps in determining his or her age-awareness are straightforward:

Ask your doctor how he or she completes the requirement for continuing medical education. (This is especially important if a long time has passed since training.) All states require that doctors earn a certain number of continuing education credits by attending classes on recent medical developments.

Find out if your doctor teaches or does research at a local medical school. Medical school faculty members are more likely than community doctors to have current knowledge, at least in the area of their specialty.

Get a second opinion. Finding out what another doctor thinks about your problem can be an excellent way to assess your doctor's knowledge. Good doctors shouldn't feel threatened by second opinions.

Educate yourself about your health. With expanding access to medical information on the Web, patients now have more information available than ever. Take advantage of it. The more you know about your health, the better you'll be able to evaluate your doctor. You, as the patient, have some responsibilities too.

Find out what experience your doctor has had treating conditions similar to yours, as well as common conditions that affect older people.

Keeping healthy and seeking proper medical care are two of the best things you can do for yourself. Most doctors, like most people, are trustworthy. But it's still a good idea to learn what you can about your doctor. You'll feel better knowing you've selected a top-notch professional.

What are your tips for finding a good Doctor? Share your story with us.

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