Anyone suffering from an illness related to the thyroid must go to a specialist who deals with these specific diseases. Consulting a specialist is important because they can help with the right treatment plan to help relieve the symptoms and eliminate the disease. The best thyroid specialist will make this health scare easier to manage. 

Understand doctor’s roles
Depending on the condition, there are different doctors who may be of help.

• OB/GYNs:  They are focused on thyroid disease and women’s hormonal health.
• Primary care physicians:  They are known to treat diseases like autoimmune hypothyroidism, and they also look at other holistic approaches.
• Endocrinologists:  These doctors are trained and specialized in internal medicine and endocrinology. This is most closely aligned with thyroid disease.
• Oncologists:  These are trained to treat thyroid cancer with the help of specific treatment plans.
• Surgeons:  They are the ones who perform thyroidectomies.

Ask for referrals
Once there is a clear understanding of what kind of doctor is needed to help treat the condition, it is important to start gathering referrals. Ask family and friends to provide any recommendations they trust. There are also online thyroid communities where this information can be found. Think of this as a group of people who are passionate about the subject and have the information regarding the appropriate specialists.

Check their educational qualifications
A thyroid specialist, first and foremost, must have completed four years of education at a medical school. They must then have completed their three years of internal medicine residency program at a hospital, followed by two to three years of endocrinology fellowship. These are the important education background checks necessary to ensure the doctor has trained in the right field of work and has the knowledge to provide a diagnosis and treatment plan for the condition. There are a couple of other checks which should also be done.

Check their credentials
While the doctor may be well-educated, it is also important to check if they are certified by the board and have the right license to be a doctor in the state. Board certification is a long process and involves years of experience and learning. However, the certification and license prove that the doctor has the necessary training and skills to perform their duties with the proper knowledge.

A quick peek into their work history is also recommended to make sure there are no discrepancies from the past. It is important to know if there are any malpractice cases. These bits of information help in making the right decision in the situation. This is also readily available through the board’s website, so there is easy access to all the certified doctors and specialists.

Ask questions
After finding a specialist, book a first appointment to get familiar with them and go with a set of questions that need to be answered. A detailed conversation with the doctor will help build a rapport and trust based on which further steps can be taken. Do not hesitate to ask them as many questions as possible. Here are some questions one can ask the doctor during their first appointment:

• What kind of a thyroid condition do you suspect?
• Are there any other symptoms I should be aware of that I may not have noticed already?
• What kind of tests are needed for the diagnosis?
• What do you suggest is the best course of treatment?
• Are there any side effects to this treatment plan?
• How can I prepare myself for the treatment?
• What is the recovery period?
• Any special instructions for the recovery time?
• Are there any do’s and don’ts that I should be aware of?
• How risky is the procedure?
• Will my insurance cover this treatment?
• Is it affordable?

These are some of the questions that need to be asked to know more about the condition. This also provides an opportunity to know how empathetic and patient the doctor may be with all these queries.

Staff friendliness
Another thing to notice that may help decide the best thyroid specialist is their staff. Is the process of booking an appointment easy or tiresome? This small detail is important because what if something happens in the middle of the night and one needs to see the doctor immediately? Can they give a last-minute emergency appointment? Check for regular office hours and how their emergency booking works, if available.

Insurance coverage
It is important to check if the treatments suggested by the doctor are covered under insurance. That will make it an affordable thyroid care treatment plan. One should have this in-depth conversation with the doctor to understand how they work with the insurance companies. If the treatments get covered under insurance, it makes for affordable care.