Hi, Luna.

Are you thinking of a new internist, or family practice doctor? Or, is it a GI doc that you are seeking?

First of all, in this day and age, just about everybody is concerned about finding, and being treated by, a doctor who participates in the insurance plan that they use. Otherwise, the treatment can be EXTREMELY expensive--out of reach for most people. So, call your medical insurance company (or go to their website, and find information about your specific plan and coverage), and ask for a list of "in-network" doctors in the speciality you are seeking.

Once, you have the list, if it's an internist of family practice doctor that you are looking for, ask around at work, at your church or synagogue,  at clubs that you belong to, for feedback about those doctors.

Ask about the doctor, themselves: Would you be likely to have a better rapport is the doctor were male or female? Newly graduated, or in practice for many years?

Find out: Are they on time for their appointments? Do they give their patients an appropriate amount of "face" time (or they keep checking their watches, etc.)? Do they treat their patients respectfully? (Address them as "Mr. or "Ms", unless instructed otherwise; first greeted fully clothed, in an office setting--not undressed, in an examining room; etc.).

Is the doctor accessible, or do you have to jump through administrative hoops to talk to him/her between appointments? (Does he/her have telephone hours when you can call in for non-urgent questions or concerns? Does he/she correspond by e-mail? Fax?)

Is the office clean, up-to-date, well lit, handicapped accessible, and with appropriate privacy? Enough parking? Reasonable office hours, and no hassle appointments, when you need them? Is the office staff polite, courteous, and supportive to patients and their families?

Feel free to narrow your list to just a few "candidates," and then, call them, to either chat briefly with each one, or meet in person, to find the one you feel most comfortable with. Of course, when you call, be sure to explain the reason why you are calling, and have ready a short, succinct list of items that you wish to speak about, to get to know each doctor a bit, so that you do not wind up wasting anyone's time.

In selecting a GI doctor the process would be much the same, but I'd suggest that you start with a referral from your primary care provider doctor (usually your family practice doctor, nurse practitioner, or internist). Then, network with contacts in the community, as I described, above, AND contact your local Crohn's and Colitis Foundation of America (CCFA) chapter (go to: www.ccfa.org and click on "Chapters & Events," on the left hand side of the screen, to find your local chapter) for a list of GI doctors in your area who are CCFA professional members. These doctors tend to be more up-to-date, and more consumer focused, than are non-member doctors.

I also recommend asking your local CCFA chapter about informal meetings, where you can get to know other people in your area, who also have IBD. You can find out many useful things from other people who are have been through what you've been going though.

Good luck!

Hope