Anyone who plays sports, whether as a profession or for recreational purposes or is living an active lifestyle, needs the expertise of a sports medicine doctor to stay fit and active. A sports medicine doctor is a medical professional who diagnoses sports injuries, treats them, and prevents them from getting in the way of your sports or recreational activities.
Sport medicine doctors also help you improve your fitness, reduce your health risk, and start or return to physical activities after a sports injury. So, choosing the right one is important for whatever reason you want to see a sports medicine doctor.
Let’s talk about some steps to finding the right sports medicine doctor and where you can find the best sports medicine doctor in Walnut Creek, CA.
#1 Get Referrals and Recommendations
Finding a good sports medicine doctor alone can be a challenging and time-consuming task. So, getting help from people who already know one is better.
You can ask your primary care providers for the referrals list of sports medicine doctors. Plus, you can also get recommendations from your peers, gym partners, and family members who have seen a sports medicine doctor or know someone who has.
#2 Consider Your Insurance Plan
If you don’t want to pay out of pocket for the cost of services you’ll receive from a sports medicine doctor, find out whether your insurance plan will cover the cost of the services and if your potential sports medicine doctor is on your insurer’s providers list.
For this, you can contact your insurance company and inquire about your insurance coverage or search for the name of your potential sports medicine doctor on your insurance company’s website.
Once you have made a list of potential sports medicine doctors who come under your insurance plan, do some research to narrow down the list.
#3 Research the Sports Medicine Doctor’s Background and Credentials
While narrowing down your list, select a sports medicine doctor who is board certified. Board certification ensures that the sports medicine doctor has studied the musculoskeletal system extensively and has the necessary training and experience to administer the best care.
Also, check that your potential sports medicine doctor has no history of malpractice claims or disciplinary actions. You can find the medical school, training hospital, board certification, and malpractice and disciplinary action history of the sports medicine doctor on the state’s website.
You must also check for how long the potential sports medicine doctor has been practicing sports medicine.
#4 Read Patient Reviews
Online patient reviews and testimonials can help you find out how the doctor practices medicine, what’s the attitude of the doctor and staff toward patients, how well patients trust the doctor for procedures, and how well the sports medicine doctor addresses the patient’s concerns and questions regarding treatment. The patient reviews also reflect the experience of patients with scheduling appointments, office environment, and wait times.
#5 Evaluate the Commination Style and Bedside Manners
Once you have a narrowed-down list of sports medicine doctors, make an initial appointment with the top sports medicine doctors on your list. This will let you know if the doctor is welcoming if you’re comfortable discussing your concerns with them and if they respect your decisions.
To evaluate this, you can also ask questions from potential sports medicine doctors and notice how they respond.
Sports Medicine Doctor in Walnut Creek, CA
If you’re looking for a highly experienced and highly trained sports medicine doctor, look no further than our board-certified and fellowship-trained sports medicine doctor Dr. Laura Timmerman. Our sports medicine specialist has been board-certified for over 30 years and is highly experienced in treating athletic injuries of your important joints, i.e., shoulder, knee, and elbow. She will provide you with treatment for your sports injuries, prevent injuries and help you stay fit.
If you would like to make an appointment with us, call us today at (925) 952-4080 or set up an appointment by using our appointment request form.
