Choosing the right ENT Doctor

Finding the right health care professional in any discipline can be a case of trial and error. The more you research, the more you find and that can make the pool widen and the choice for a new ear, nose and throat doctor one that is rather difficult. An otolaryngologist is the medical term for an ear, nose and throat specialist. With there being more than 12,000 professionals as part of the list of ENTs across the US, determining which one you will choose can seem difficult. Not an easy choice. The good news, though, is that once you can get through the research, you can feel confident that you know how to make the right decision for your health. Let’s take a look at what can help you to determine the right ear, nose and throat doctor for you.

What do ENTs treat?

It’s a large and complex field, otolaryngology, but the good thing about it is that it covers so many different disorders. Some of those are listed below:

• Head and neck issues, including tumors located in the area.
• Allergies and sinus disorders
• Facial surgery to repair abnormalities in the structure or cosmetic changes in the face, neck or ears.
• Disorders of the throat (laryngology)
• Issues related to the ears or nerves associated with balance and your hearing.
• Rhinology; disorders that affect the nasal cavities.

Where to start

When you are looking for a new ear, nose and throat doctor, it’s natural to head to the internet for research of those in the area. You could also speak to your health insurance provider, who may have specific otolaryngologists that they cover your health for. They will also have specific doctors on their list who are based in your area. You could speak to local ENT offices like Mountain ENT and learn their credentials, the type of service that they offer and speak to them about.

Other than these options, think about getting referrals from family and friends. They can give you the insider information about the service that they get from their ear, nose and throat doctor. Any recommendations that you can get can help you to compile your list of who to go with and you can search for their educational background and accreditations online – you need to find a board-certified ear, nose and throat doctor.

Board certification

As mentioned above, you need to find board-certified ear, nose and throat doctors to assess for your needs. It’s an important factor to take into account and to qualify for board certification, your ENT has to go through a four-year college degree, four years of medical school and then five further years of training. Once they’ve done all of this, they have to pass the ABO – American Board of Otolaryngology. It’s a lot, but it’s something that gives them weight and trust.

Review patient satisfaction surveys

While you are gathering all the information, you need to remember that what one person looks for in an ear, nose and throat doctor, doesn’t mean that you will be looking for the same things. Everyone has a different opinion about what makes a good doctor, so that’s why clinics hand out surveys for patients to fill out and post. They are an excellent source of information and honest feedback so that you can make the best possible decision on the ENTs you are researching.

Experience matters

In order to find an ENT that is best suited to your needs, you have to compile a list of those in your area and eliminate the candidates who are not yet board-certified. Then, look into how long that they have been practicing and how much experience they have. Your health is important and there’s nothing wrong with choosing the ear, nose and throat doctor with the most experience. The more experience that an ENT has, the more knowledge and expertise that they will be able to offer you as a patient.

Finding the right ENT may take you some time, but when there are experts waiting to help you at Mountain ENT, you can get your ear, nose or throat issue sorted quickly. Our small-town values do not mean we give you care in a bitesize piece; our care is world class. You can contact any one of our offices on the numbers below:

• Sylva: 828-586-7474
• Franklin: 828-524-5599
• Murphy: 828-835-1014
• Asheville: 828-458-8100