Find an Obstetrician Gynecologist

How to Choose an OB/GYN

An obstetrician/gynecologist (OB/GYN) cares for the health and medical needs of women and their reproductive systems.

Obstetrics is the practice of prenatal care and the delivery of babies. They help a woman manage pregnancy, labor and the first few months postchildbirth.

Gynecologists diagnose and treat medical problems associated with a woman's reproductive organs, breast health, hormonal issues, urinary tract problems and those systems that are interrelated. Family planning services and the diagnosis and treatment of sexually transmitted diseases may also be included. Overall, the care provided by an OB/GYN may be preventive, diagnostic, treatment-oriented and/or surgical.

Make a List of Possibilities

• Find other patients who have similar medical challenges or family situations as you. Ask them for names of primary care doctors they like to work with.
• Do a search on UCompareHealthCare.com for the names of physicians in your area.
• Check with your insurance company for a list of doctors who work with your insurance.

Compare these lists to find names in common. Those will be the doctors you want to spend time learning more about by researching their credentials and capabilities.

An OB/GYN's Training and Credentials

OB/GYNs complete medical school and a minimum of four years of training in a graduate residency program, first studying basic medicine and then specializing in women's healthcare. Their education requires time spent in classrooms, medical offices and hospitals, working directly with patients and other medical professionals.

There are two forms of residency programs in which an OB/GYN may participate: one leads to a Medical Doctor (MD) and the other leads to an Osteopathic Doctor (DO). Both designations require a similar amount of education but focus differently; a MD practices allopathic medicine, considered to be conventional medicine, and looks at the body as a series of separately functioning systems. A DO learns more about the human musculoskeletal system and approaches the body as a whole system.

After their first four years of training, some OB/GYNs begin the practice of medicine. Others continue their education beyond residency in fellowship programs, which allow them to concentrate in specialty areas, such as gynecologic oncology (cancer of female systems), maternal/fetal medicine (pregnancy complications), reproductive endocrinology and infertility (hormonal systems and pregnancy) and urogynecology and reconstructive pelvic surgery (a surgical subspecialty which deals with pelvic conditions and urinary tract problems).

Once a physician has completed these aspects of education, she may apply to be a certified member of the American Board of Obstetrics and Gynecology or the American College of Osteopathic Obstetricians and Gynecologists. Board membership requires frequent recertification, and to accomplish that, the physician must complete annual coursework requirements and take a recertification test.

Research an OB or GYN's Credentials

Using the list of names you have collected, look for most of the following information on UCompareHealthCare.com:

• A MD or DO degree from an accredited medical school and residency program
• Completion of a fellowship, if you seek help in a specialty area
• Board certification from the board that makes sense for your needs. This may be the American Board of Obstetrics and Gynecology, the American College of Osteopathic Obstetricians and Gynecologists or a subspecialty board. A master list of medical boards can be found through the American Board of Medical Specialties. The master list of osteopathic boards is located at the American Osteopathic Association.
• Licensure from the state in which you will seek care. The Federation of State Medical Boards provides a master list of licensing bodies.
• A review of possible disciplinary actions. This information can be difficult to find, but the most obvious will be listed here on the UCompareHealthCare.com website. Further information can sometimes be found by inputting the doctor's name and location in to a search engine.

Assess an OB/GYN's Capabilities

Once you have vetted your list based on the criteria above, you'll want to ask the following questions to determine which doctors are worth meeting:

• Is this doctor on the list of providers who work with my insurance?
• Does this doctor have admitting privileges at my choice of hospitals?
• Is this doctor's location convenient for me? What are the office hours? Is the office nearby, located on a bus route or easy to access if I use a wheelchair?
• What happens if I call this doctor in an emergency? How quickly will I get a return call?
• If the doctor is not available, is there someone else who can help me when I make a phone call or need an appointment?

If you are satisfied with the answers, you'll need to make an appointment, where you'll want to consider these questions:

• Does the doctor see you and your child within a fair amount of time of your appointment time?
• Does the doctor listen to your questions and not interrupt you?
• Is the doctor respectful?
• Does the doctor explain the meaning of difficult terms and otherwise communicate effectively with you?
• Does the doctor spend enough time with you?
• Are you comfortable with this doctor?

Finding the right OB/GYN may seem like a long, involved process, however, knowing that this doctor may partner with you for your lifetime makes it worth your time and effort.

Trisha Torrey
Guide to Patient Empowerment, About.com
Learn more about finding the right OB/GYN for you at About.com.