Arlington Hts. hospital helps patients find Dr. Right

Personality is important when you're speed dating. But more serious issues also come to mind when the object is selecting a primary care physician.

Geography, insurance, office hours, medical philosophy, experience and listening skills are among the concerns.

Northwest Community Hospital is trying the speed dating format for “Finding Dr. Right” to bring doctors and potential patients together. Ten physicians each sit at a small table, where they chat with people for 5 minutes, until the bell rings.

The next event with another set of physicians will be from 6-7:30 p.m. Oct. 26, at the Wellness Center, 900 W. Central Road on the Arlington Heights campus.

Judy L'Amoureux of Arlington Heights met with just three doctors before she made her choice, Dr. Katherine Kotcherian, also of Arlington Heights.

“I'm looking for a female, and I liked her manner,” said L'Amoureux, who got in the market for a doctor when her previous one quit practicing.

“She has a convenient location and office hours. I liked her personality,” L'Amoureux said. “I think she's easy to talk to. I've had two doctors I like give up their practices.”

On the other side of the table, Dr. Gregory J. Lindsay of Buffalo Grove, sympathizes with people faced with “throwing a dart at a phone book” when it's time to select a doctor.

“It's a big waste of time, and picking a doctor becomes a huge hassle,” he said.

This program puts potential patients in a less intimidating setting on neutral turf while letting doctors get their names out and explain their philosophies, said Lindsay.

Dr. Paul Devarapalli, whose office is in Des Plaines, said most of the people he talked with want a doctor who is a good listener.

Dr. Heidi Wehlus of Arlington Heights and Buffalo Grove impressed Jim Heyland of Hoffman Estates.

“I liked her emphasis on wellness, establishing a regular relationship and the attitude that we'll make you as healthy as you can be,” he said.

Heyland has a friend who required surgery while traveling abroad, and he thinks his doctor should know something about international medicine so she can give good advice if an emergency arises while he's in another country.

A couple dozen people signed up for the first session with 10 doctors, about half of whom were with Affinity, a practice purchased recently by the hospital. The first two sessions are with primary care doctors, and eventually specialists might be added.

The idea came from focus groups where hospital staff hear from people seeking doctors closer to home or work or even their daughter's place who don't realize the hospital provides a referral service.

“Someone said ‘Wouldn't it be great if we could do speed dating for doctors?' and we started thinking ‘Hmmm, can we do this?'” Lindsay said.

Registration is available at nch.org or (847) 618-4968.