Once you have chosen two or three doctors, call their offices. The office staff often are a good source of information about the doctor's education and training, office policies, and payment procedures. You may want to set up an appointment to talk with a doctor. Make sure that he or she knows that you are trying to decide on a doctor. You may be charged for such a visit.
Board certification is one way to tell about a doctor's expertise.
Doctors who are board certified have had training after medical school and have passed an exam certifying them as specialists in certain fields of medicine. These include the primary care fields of family practice, internal medicine, and geriatrics. You may have a number of questions to ask the new doctor. After choosing a doctor, make your first appointment. During this visit, the doctor will probably take a medical history, which will include questions about your current and past illnesses as well as any illnesses in members of your family.