How to Find the Right Ulcerative Colitis Doctor for You: 7 Steps

If you have ulcerative colitis (UC), finding the right doctor can help you manage your symptoms in the short term and maintain your overall health over the long term.

“You need a good relationship with your doctor so you have someone who supports you when you’re well as well as when you’re ill,” says Sashidhar Sagi, MD, a gastroenterologist and hepatologist with Indiana University Health in Indianapolis, who specializes in treating digestive disorders like UC.

If you plan to switch doctors — either because of a change in insurance, a move to a new area, an issue with your current doctor, or a decision to switch from your primary care doctor to a specialist — it’s important to find a physician who will be the right fit for you.

1. See a Gastroenterologist Who Specializes in Inflammatory Bowel Disease

A gastroenterologist is trained in the medical management of UC, and large practices often have a doctor with an inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) specialty, says Gil Melmed, MD, director of IBD clinical research at Cedars-Sinai in Los Angeles and cochairperson of the Crohn’s & Colitis Foundation’s IBD Qorus, a quality-of-care initiative.

Gastroenterologists also do colonoscopies. The test is “a very important tool for understanding, evaluating, and assessing the state of colitis, which enables treatment decisions,” says Dr. Melmed. A gastroenterologist can also help you find the right medication to address the digestive tract inflammation causing your symptoms.

If you live in an area with fewer choices of specialists, and you’re only going to see them once or twice a year, it’s a good idea to see a local doctor, such as a primary care physician, for regular care.

2. Use an Online Directory to Start Your Search

If you don’t know where to start to find a specialist, you can use the physician directory on the Crohn’s & Colitis Foundation’s website or check the websites of other associations, such as the American College of Gastroenterology.

3. Ask for Recommendations From Doctors and Peers

If you feel comfortable doing so, you could ask your current primary care doctor for recommendations, says Melmed.

4. Call the Doctor’s Office to Ask About Their Experience With Treating Ulcerative Colitis

If you have a list of doctors to try but aren’t sure which one will be best for you, it may be worth calling the office and asking how many people with UC the doctor sees. That’ll give you a sense of how much experience the physician has with the condition, Melmed says.

This is also a good time to ask questions about the practice itself, such as which insurance plans they accept, what telehealth policies they may have, or how long the average wait time is for an appointment.

5. Make the Most of Your First Appointment

The first appointment is your best opportunity to see if a doctor is the right long-term fit for you. As Dr. Sagi says, a good physician will treat not just the disease, but also you as a person. To make the most of this visit and find out if the doctor is a good fit, it helps to come prepared. Some ways to do this include:

• Write Down Your Questions It’s easy to forget things in the moment, so write down a list of questions and concerns before your appointment. Examples include: “How will I know if my UC is in remission?” or “When should I see or contact you?”

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• Summarize Your Health History Be ready to share a brief history of your UC journey. It might be helpful to bring a simple timeline that includes the date of your diagnosis, a list of past and current medications and how you responded to them, and information about any past surgeries or hospital visits related to your UC.
• Keep a Symptom Journal For a week or two leading up to your appointment, keep a simple log of your symptoms, their severity, and any potential triggers you’ve noticed. This provides concrete information for your new doctor to work with.

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6. Consider a Hospital System if You Need Surgery

Melmed says that while you don’t need to get your routine care at a major surgical center, it’s best to find a surgeon or hospital that specializes in IBD and is covered by your insurance. Having a plan in place will make the process much smoother if the need for surgery ever arises.

7. Keep Track of Your Medical Records

As you conduct your search for the right doctor, be sure your medical records follow you. “It can be tricky for a doctor to see new patients when the records aren’t available,” Melmed says. Either make sure your records precede you to the new office or bring them with you to ensure you get the best care from the start. Important things to have (if available) include colonoscopy and biopsy reports, any imaging studies, such as computed tomography (CT) scans, surgery records, and recent progress notes and medication lists.

• For the best care, it’s important to see a gastroenterologist who has experience treating people with ulcerative colitis (UC).
• If you’re not sure where to start, online gastroenterologist directories or recommendations from your primary care doctor can help.
• To make the most of your visit, prepare by writing down your questions, summarizing your health history, keeping a log of your symptoms, and having any medical records you may need.