Frequently Asked Questions

Find the answers to the most commonly asked questions about the Find a Doctor tool. If you have further questions or would like personalized assistance in selecting a San Diego physician affiliated with Sharp, please call 1-800-82-SHARP (1-800-827-4277), Monday through Friday, 8 am to 6 pm, or go to Call Me Back and a physician referral nurse will call you at your convenience.

General Questions

Physician Search Questions

Accessing Care

General Questions

What is Find a Doctor?
Find a Doctor is a quick, easy-to-use tool that allows you to search for Sharp-affiliated physicians online. Below are some of the benefits of using Find a Doctor:

  • Convenient — search for physicians anytime, in the comfort of your own home
  • Customizable — search for physicians who meet YOUR criteria
  • Saves time — do it online and forego the wait time of calling physicians' offices individually
  • Stay informed — get detailed information about a physician before your first meeting

What information can I find using Find a Doctor?
With Find a Doctor, you can find detailed information about physicians affiliated with Sharp HealthCare, including:

  • Affiliations
  • Age
  • Certifications
  • Education
  • Gender
  • Insurances accepted
  • Languages spoken in office
  • Name
  • Office location and maps/driving directions to office
  • Phone number
  • Practice profile
  • Specialty 

This information can help you to choose a physician and style of care you are comfortable with, at a facility that is convenient for you.

How often is the information is the Find a Doctor updated?
Find a Doctor is updated daily.

Who are the physicians listed in Find a Doctor?
Find a Doctor is database of more than 4,000 highly qualified physicians who are in good standing with a Sharp HealthCare hospital or affiliated medical group, and who use Sharp facilities. They practice in a variety of settings, from hospitals to multi-specialty offices to private practice offices, at locations throughout San Diego County. They pay no fees to participate in this website service.

Back to top

Physician Search Questions

How do I use Find a Doctor?
You can search for a physician in one of two ways:

  • Browse by category— to find a physician based on YOUR criteria, such as specialty, medical group, insurance or health plan, zip code, language spoken in physician's office or gender
  • Search by last name  — to look up a doctor by last name

I need help selecting a physician. What do I do?
Visit Choosing a Physician or call 1-800-82-SHARP (1-800-827-4277), Monday through Friday, 8 am to 6 pm.

What is a specialty?
A specialty is a particular, focused field of medicine. A specialist is a physician who cares for patients who have a particular set of diseases or conditions associated with that specialty. For example, a dermatologist is a physician who specializes in disorders of the skin, hair and nails.

Before seeking care from a specialist, be sure to check with your health plan to see if you need a referral from your primary care physician. The phone number for the member service department of your health plan is usually on the back of your insurance card.

What is a primary care physician?
This is your "personal" physician, who is familiar with your health history and coordinates all your health care. Primary care physicians usually specialize in family practice, internal medicine, general practice or pediatrics. Some OB/GYNs are also considered primary care physicians.

With HMO plans, if you need a specialist, your primary care physician will refer you and keep in contact with your specialist to ensure continuity of your care.

If you have further questions about primary care, please call the member service department of your insurance or health plan. The phone number is usually located on the back of your insurance card.

Can I change my primary care physician? Who do I call to change my primary care physician?
Yes. While it is a good idea to stay with a primary care physician so he/she can really get to know your health needs and history, it is most important that you have a primary care physician whom you trust, are comfortable with and is conveniently located for you.

If you need to change your primary care physician, use our Physician Finder to select your new primary care physician. Then, call the member services department of your insurance or health plan. The phone number is usually located on the back of your insurance card.

Can I see a specialist directly, without a referral from my PCP?
Yes, in some cases. Some health plans allow women to have direct and unlimited access to participating OB/GYN physicians within their PCP's medical group for all obstetrical and/or gynecological services. In addition, some medical groups offer direct access to other types of specialists, such as allergists, dermatologists and ophthalmologists. In addition, some health plans such as PPOs offer direct access to all specialists.

If you have further questions about your health plan, please call the member service department of your insurance or health plan. The phone number is usually located on the back of your insurance card.

What is a Sharp-affiliated medical group?
A medical group is a network of physicians who have agreed to work together to contract with health plans and to coordinate the care of the medical group's patients. Therefore, when you choose a medical group, you are choosing the specific group of physicians who will provide your care from primary care physicians to specialists.

If you have further questions about medical groups, visit Sharp Community Medical Group or Sharp Rees-Stealy Medical Group.

What should I do if my insurance or health plan isn't listed on Physician Finder?
Sharp HealthCare accepts a wide range of health plans and health care insurances. If you cannot locate your insurance or health plan in Physician Finder, please call 1-800-82-SHARP (1-800-827-4277), Monday through Friday, 8 am to 6 pm.

What if the physician I selected doesn't accept my insurance or health plan?
First, verify with the physician's office that he or she doesn't accept your insurance, as the physician may be in the process of updating insurances or health plans. Call the physician's office directly or call 1-800-82-SHARP (1-800-827-4277), Monday through Friday, 8 am to 6 pm.

If the physician does not accept your insurance or health plan, locate another physician in Find a Doctor that does accept your insurance and meets your other criteria.

Back to top

Accessing Care

How do I access care from a physician?
If you are already an existing patient with your physician (you have already seen your physician) simply call your physician's office to make an appointment.

If you have already selected your physician, but have not yet seen him or her:

  • Call 1-800-82-SHARP (1-800-827-4277), Monday through Friday, 8 am to 6 pm
  • Call the physician's office directly to make an appointment to receive medical care 
  • Call Me Back and a physician referral nurse will call you at your convenience

If you are new to Sharp HealthCare, you may first need to select a primary care physician (PCP) to act as your "personal" physician, who will become familiar with your health history and coordinate all your health care. Doctors who specialize in family practice, internal medicine, general practice and pediatrics are considered primary care physicians. Some OB/GYNs are also considered PCPs.

If you have further questions about primary care, please call the member service department of your insurance or health plan. The phone number is usually located on the back of your insurance card.

The physician I selected isn't taking new patients. What do I do?
Call 1-800-82-SHARP (1-800-827-4277), Monday through Friday, 8 am to 6 pm, for help. The physician referral nurses at 82-SHARP can contact the physician offices for you to confirm that the physician you select is accepting new patients.

When can I see my new physician?
If you just enrolled with a new insurance or health plan and chose a primary care physician, you can see your physician as soon as your coverage becomes effective.

If you changed medical groups, make sure your appointment with your new primary care physician is on or after your effective date with your new medical group. For information about your effective date, contact the member services department of your health plan. The phone number is usually located on the back of your insurance card.

There are three ways you can make an appointment to see your new physician:

  1. Call 1-800-82-SHARP (1-800-827-4277), Monday through Friday, 8 am to 6 pm, for help in making an appointment.
  2. Call the physician's office directly to make an appointment to receive medical care.
  3. Request an Appointment online (for Sharp Rees-Stealy patients only at this time).

If you need to see a specialist, your insurance or medical group may have specific guidelines regarding authorizing referrals to see a specialist. Please call the member service department of your insurance or health plan. The phone number is usually located on the back of your insurance card.

What should I take to my first appointment?
Your physician will need some background information about your health, so it's best to bring as much medical information as possible, including, but not limited to:

  • Medical records
    If you are undergoing treatment at the time you change physicians, your medical records are invaluable to your new doctor.

  • Medications
    Prescription AND over-the-counter medications, including any herbal/naturopathic medications you take. Your physician will want to know the name of the medication, the dosage, how often you take it and why you take it.

  • Special needs
    Make a list of any equipment or devices you use, including wheelchairs, oxygen and hospital beds, as well as glucose monitors and the glucose strips. Your physician should also know about how you use the equipment and devices, not only to make sure you have the equipment you medically need, but also to make sure that there is no disruption in your care.

  • Your insurance card
    Your insurance company generally does not provide your physician with your insurance information, so providing your card to the office gives them the information they need about copays, where to send bills and customer service information about your benefits.

Back to top

Last Updated: July 23, 2009