Choosing a Utah Allergy Doctor

If you are in the Salt Lake City Utah area and you can schedule an allergy doctor appointment or contact us with any of your allergy related questions. Choosing an allergy specialist is an important decision requiring careful research. There are many issues to consider when making your decision. The right time to choose an Allergist (i.e. allergy doctor) is BEFORE you need one. When you’re suffering with allergy symptoms, you want to be in a position to receive fast, quality treatment. You don’t want to begin your search when you already need care. Following are some basic guidelines which may be useful in your search for a qualified allergist. If you are lucky enough to be unaffected by the trees, you may need to try avoiding grasses instead. The top allergy causing grasses in the Salt Lake City Utah area are Bermuda grass, Meadow fescue, Brome, Orchard grass, Wild oat, Timothy, Red top, Johnson and Rye. Fortunately, according to Conservewater.utah.gov, Kentucky Bluegrass is the most common type of lawn grass in Utah and is not on the list of the most highly allergenic. Considerations which should be included are: The location of the doctor’s office. There are only a few allergy doctors in Salt Lake City Utah so finding a doctor within a reasonable distance to your home or office is essential, as you will be much less likely to seek treatment and advise from your doctor if it is inconvenient to get to their office. Your comfort level in associating with the doctor and his or her office staff. This is imperative as you need to feel comfortable discussing all or your allergy symptoms with your doctor. You also need to feel that the staff is concerned with you and your particular situation. Which insurance plans the doctor accepts. Obviously if the doctor does not accept your particular plan, you will want to continue looking. It is also a good idea to find out if the doctor is a preferred provider with your insurance plan or a secondary provider. What days the doctor is generally available. Doctors generally take one day off during the week. Additionally, they may have days when they are at other offices or have other obligations. It is a good idea to make sure that the doctor’s schedule is complimentary to your own schedule. The qualifications of the doctor including education, training, certifications etc. Disciplinary action or complaints against the doctor. When researching information regarding which doctor may best suit your needs there are a few ideas you can utilize: A great place to start your search is by asking family, friends and co-workers whom they would recommend as a qualified allergist. If you are already established with a Primary Care Physician, he or she can recommend a specialist that they feel would work well for your needs. Information regarding doctors including licensing information can be found online at www.dopl.utah.gov. Insurance companies provide lists of preferred providers and sometimes these lists will include brief descriptions of the physicians qualifications or specialties. www.utah.citysearch.com also provides a directory of local allergists, their contact information as well as a rating and review system by current and former patients. While finding a qualified allergist may take time and research, the benefit of having a doctor who can assess, diagnose and treat your symptoms appropriately is well worth the effort you may put in. Here are some more questions to ask yourself when considering different allergists in Utah How experienced is the allergist? If you have severe allergies, does the physician treat other patients with similar conditions? Is the allergist experienced and knowledgeable? Does the doctor/clinic accept you insurance? What are the fees and costs of getting treatment? Is the allergist well-respected, and referred to family and friends? What is the educational background of the allergist, does he/she have a specialty? Is she/he properly certified as an allergist and not just as a general doctor? Do the allergist and staff listen to your questions and respond with helpful answers, and how do they communicate test results and other important information)? Who covers for your doctor when he/she is unavailable or on vacation? Is all of your allergy treatment reviewed by your doctor? How professional, clean and comfortable is the clinic/office environment? Is the staff respectful, pleasant and courteous towards patients? How close is the office/clinic from your home or your place of work? Is the office easily accessible (e.g., adequate parking, easy to locate)? Does the doctor encourage preventive medicine, such as routine checkups and follow-up tests? Does the doctor have office hours that are convenient for your family? In addition, it is not a bad idea to contact the physician’s office to schedule an appointment to meet the doctor in person. This may help you get a better feeling if she/he is the right choice for you and your family. Sources: National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences, Environmental Protection Agency, American Academy of Allergy, Asthma and Immunology, American Lung Association, Medlineplus.gov, Foodallergies .org, enotalone.com, intermountainallergy.com, allergyescape.com, acaai.org, medicinenet.com, ncs.gov. Disclaimer: The allergy information on this website is strictly general information and should not be taken as official advice. Please schedule an appointment with an allergy doctor in order to get a proper and full allergy diagnosis. This article was developed by Utah Allergy Associates of Utah and Adaptivity Pro SEO Services