The field of Urology is concerned with the medical and surgical diseases of or related to male reproductive organs and urinary tract systems of both males and females. Urology covers a range of diseases affecting the organs such as the urinary bladder, adrenal glands, kidneys, ureters, and urethra.
The male reproductive organs that come under urology include the prostate, penis, vas deferens, epididymis, seminal vesicles, and testes. A urologist is a specialized doctor in the field of urology.
Medical conditions treated by urologists
A urologist uses both surgical and non-surgical methods to treat medical conditions affecting the body organs. Non-surgical methods include medications, while surgical procedures are used for serious conditions like kidney stones, traumatic injury, prostate cancer, stress-caused incontinence, and congenital abnormality.
Urologists treat the following conditions:
- Urinary tract infections
- Prostate cancer
- Genitourinary tumors
- Kidney failure or renal
- Renal diseases and insufficiency
- Renal transplant
- Trauma
- Sexual infertility and dysfunction
- Reconstructive surgery
Getting the best urological care starts with the search for the right specialist. Usually, people visit urologists on the advice of their physician or any other doctor. If you are not careful to find the best urologist, there might arise complications in your treatment. So, don’t take any chances that you might regret later.
Sure enough, finding a good urologist isn’t a cakewalk. It requires a lot of research and detailed study into the matter. The following points will help you pick the best one in the medical field.
Gathering information
To initiate the process, you need to start searching for information – whether online or offline. What kind of information, you may wonder. Well, look below:
- Insurance carrier
Do you have a health insurance plan? If yes, consult your carrier for urologists who participate in your plan.
- Primary-care physician
When you feel something wrong with your body, you visit a primary-care physician, who sends you to a specialist according to the needs of your body and medical goals. The recommendation, mostly, is solid.
- Local hospital
Urologists often operate in their private clinics as well as hospitals. You might want to consult the hospital administrator to get the names of urologists associated with the local hospitals.
- Ask around
It is one of the most adopted methods of getting the best urologist. You can ask your friends, family, and colleagues to get good recommendations.
- Online reviews
Nowadays, you can find everything online. You can try to search for a quality urologist online with the help of reviews and testimonials.
Checking credentials
Once you have shortlisted a few urologists, you need to dig deeper. You can consult medical directories to know whether the urologist is board certified or not. You can also contact local or state medical societies to know more about the urologist such as the number of years s/he has been practicing and procedures performed.
A good urologist has credentials and is an expert in his field, thus getting most patients.
Other considerations
Although you have done your research and checked the credentials of the doctor, there remain some other important considerations that must be taken into account. Following are some of them:
- Location and convenience
Look for a urologist who is easily accessible and available, providing quality care.
- Language
For optimum health, you need to have clear communication with the urologist as it helps to minimize unintentional medical errors. Clear communication can be made sure if the urologist is fluent in the language you speak in.
- Office manners
How the urologist treats you is an important factor to pick him/her. You should take note of various aspects like how you were treated on the phone when taking a consultation, the attitude of staff, and cleanliness around the office among others.
Now that you are aware of what are the contributing factors when choosing the best urologist for yourself, make your best choice.
