How to Find a Doctor in Chicago

Finding a physician can be a difficult task, especially in a city as large as Chicago. Not only are there many health care groups and large hospitals, but there is also a multitude of physicians in private practice to choose from. One advantage of living in Chicago is that there are so many qualified physicians in every specialty, but this abundance of choices can make decision-making difficult.

Instructions

• 1

  Determine what kind of doctor you are looking for. If you are looking for a primary care physician (also thought of as a "family doctor"), they will generally be located all over the city. If you are looking for a specialist, they can often be found at larger hospitals, especially hospitals in an academic setting (see Resources). This means that Rush, University of Chicago, and Northwestern are good places to look for specialists.

• 2

  Contact your insurance provider. This can be a critical step because not only will they be able to provide you with a list of different physicians in your area, they can also tell you which ones will accept your insurance. Your insurance provider's website will have listings for every doctor in the Chicago area (as well as in the surrounding suburbs) that accept your insurance. If you do not have health insurance and cannot afford to pay for your health care, you will generally be limited to free health clinics and the emergency room. While there are a number of free clinics in Chicago (and the Cook County Hospital is also available), these tend to be crowded and you will have a hard time getting seen by a specialist, since they generally only have hours once a week at best.

• 3

  Ask co-workers and people in your neighborhood. Whenever you get the chance, ask people in your neighborhood for who they use as their primary care physician. Chicago is an area with many diverse neighborhoods, and the physicians located in each neighborhood often reflect the area's inhabitants. Spanish-speaking physicians can generally be found on the southwest side, many of whom provide simple and low-cost health care. The Lincoln Park, Wicker Park and Lakeview areas often provide more upscale services, but they also can be more costly.

• 4

  Use Yelp or other community sites. There are a number of websites that allow people in different cities to review physicians. This can be a useful resource for getting different opinions to help you can find a physician that meets your preferences and needs. Yelp has a Chicago-specific section.

• 5

  Talk to your primary care physician. Once you have found a physician you trust, he can often recommend specialists for various conditions. This is especially helpful in Chicago because there are three major academic hospitals (University of Chicago, Rush and Northwestern University) that all are good at particular specialties. In general, your primary care physician will be familiar with the strengths and weaknesses of the area hospital's departments and can help you find one you that suits you and your health needs.