Whether you play sports as a professional, are a weekend warrior, hit the gym daily, or are living an active lifestyle, you need the expertise of a sports medicine physician to stay fit and healthy and avoid injuries. A sports medicine doctor is an expert who diagnoses, treats, and prevents sports injuries.
Since a sports medicine physician helps you improve your fitness, start or return to a specific physical activity, and reduce your health risks, it’s important that you choose the best one.
Let’s talk about some tips on finding the right sports medicine doctor for you in Austin, TX.
Tip #1 Ask Around
Instead of wasting your time searching for a sports medicine physician alone, get help from people around you. The first thing you can do is get referrals from your primary care doctors or other healthcare professionals. Besides, you can also get recommendations from your friends, coworkers, gym partners, and neighbors who see a sports medicine doctor.
Make a list of all the referrals and recommendations and narrow down the list after a background check.
Tip #2 Consider Your Insurance Plan
If you have health insurance and want its benefits, find a sports medicine doctor under your insurance plan. For this, you can call your insurance provider and ask for a list of providers that participate in your insurance plan.
When you have a list of all the providers that share your insurance plan, do some homework, and consider their experience, credentials, and training to select the best sports medicine physician.
Tip #3 Evaluate the Credentials of Sports Medicine Physician
To find the best sports medicine physician, do some research and find out about the education, training, and credentials of all the sports medicine physicians on your list.
One of the most important things to look for is board certification. Board certification tells you that your potential sports medicine physician has the right knowledge, training, and skills to give you the best care. You can check about the education, training, and board certification of the sports medicine physician from the state’s website.
It’s also important to confirm that sports medicine physicians have no history of disciplinary actions and malpractice claims.
Tip #4 Find Out What Other Patient Says About the Sports Medicine Physician
Knowing other patients’ reviews about the sports medicine physician can give insight into how well the physician practices medicine, how well he/she operates the practice, and how well the patients trust the physician.
Plus, patient reviews and testimonials can also help you find out about the attitude of the physician and staff toward the patients, appointment wait time, and office environment.
Tip #5 Make an Appointment with Sports Medicine Physician
To make sure that the sports medicine physician you’re going to choose is the best one and you’re comfortable with them, make an appointment with them.
During your one-on-one session with the physician, discuss your goals, ask questions if you have any, and ask for the physician’s opinion.
Sports Medicine Physician in Austin TX
If you’re looking for a highly trained, experienced, and skilled sports medicine physician, look no further than Dr. Carolyn Hyde at All-Star Orthopaedics. Our board-certified sports medicine physician is committed to giving you the best possible care for your sports injuries. Our physician also helps you teach ways to improve your physical performance during sports and physical activity, as well as ways to prevent future injuries.
To make an appointment with our sports medicine physician, call today at (512) 346-4933 or use this appointment request form.
