Choosing a doctor

Although there will be a team of people helping you during your treatment, you will probably want to choose one physician as your main doctor or primary care provider(and many insurance plans require this). There are a number of specialists who focus their practices on helping patients with silicosis and/or other lung diseases. See a list of these U.S. pulmonary specialists here.

Typical choices for Primary Care Physicians are family practice doctors, internists, pediatricians, gynecologists, nurse practitioners and others. Your PCP will:

• Provide your basic care (including teaching you how to maintain good health as well as treating routine illnesses like the flu);
• Make referrals to specialists as you need them;
• Maintain records of any and all of your health problems, what treatments you receive, and what medications you use;
• Teach you how to stay well, recover from illness, and/or if you have an ongoing condition, care for yourself in your day-to-day living;
• Coordinate all aspects of your care including hospital and specialty services.