A few weeks ago, we asked you how you’ve found a doctor in Charleston if you recently moved here, needed a new specialist (thanks to #adulting) or just needed to switch up your primary care physician (no more trips to the pediatrician over the age of 25).

In response, we got dozens of helpful tips + tricks that we’re excited to share with y’all.

First, here are a couple of tips from the experts at MUSC Health when you’re on the hunt for a new Dr.:

- Choosing a doctor is an important + personal decision.
- There are two types of doctors to consider: Primary Care Providers (PCP) + Specialists (a cardiologist specifically for your heart or a dermatologist specifically for your skin). Check to see what your needs are.
- It’s important to check + see if a provider accepts your insurance.
- You’ll also want to make sure the provider is convenient for you + that their personality and philosophy on medicine line up with your needs.
- Other things to consider: What certifications do they have? How involved are they in your personal care? Do you feel you can relate to them in a way that is important to you? Are they able to communicate with you in your preferred language?

Here is MUSC’s full Provider Directory.

Our readers had a lot of great tips, too. Here’s some of the advice y’all shared with us.

Many of you told us you ask around first, checking with friends + family to see what they recommend. Word of mouth is always a good first step.

“We moved here 2.5 years ago from Tennessee + knew we needed to find a whole new team of medical care providers. It did not take much research to discover what a great regional health provider MUSC is, so we simply went to their website + chose from their list of family physicians that were available near our home. They proved to be excellent choices.” – J. Michael H.

A handful of other readers also suggested using your healthcare provider’s directory to find a doctor.

“My husband and I moved to Charleston in July from Maryland. I used Yelp to find a new doctor, dentist, eye doctor, + hairdresser. It’s not just for restaurants!" – Christine S.

“I moved here last year. Someone else on NextDoor.com asked for doctor recommendations. I chose one of the doctors who had been highly recommended by several people, and I really like her + her practice.” – Pattie A.

“First I determined I have a PPO insurance plan, financially incentivizing I stay within a given provider network. Next, I researched on the insurance company website the names and locations of all physicians within the specialty I needed that were within the plan. I then asked my fellow citizens on NextDoor the names of physicians they had personal experience with that they could recommend or who they would say to avoid.” — Marcia C.

If your needs have changed or you’ve moved to a new place, there are plenty of ways to seek out a new doctor in your area that will be perfect for you.

This content was created in partnership with MUSC Health.

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