News 8
Patients and physicians make a connection in Bedford 
08:19 PM CDT on Saturday, October 31, 2009
BEDFORD — Sharon Harris is looking for a long-term, committed relationship.
It's not optional; her health depends on it.
"I'm going to need to find an OB/GYN, and I thought this was a great opportunity to go and see if there was a connection," Harris said.
At Texas Health Hospital in Bedford, a new program called the OB/GYN Doc Shop lets patients find their gynecologist speed-dating style. There's no pressure, no obligation, and you don't have to rely on recommendations.
"Regardless of whether you just hit puberty or you're ready to start a family or you're ready to talk hormone replacement therapy, you need an OB/GYN — so why not pick the one who's right for you instead of one that someone else told you to go to?" explained hospital spokeswoman Mandy Forbus.
Sharon Harris is not looking for the love of her life; she's on the hunt for a gynecologist she can trust. At first, she was as nervous as if she were on a first date.
"I wasn't sure what to expect, but then as I got to talking with the physicians, it was really comfortable," she said.
Like speed dating, participants have five minutes to interview several doctors during a lunch hour.
So far, only 15 physicians are signed up for the Doc Shop, the only program of its kind in North Texas.
Dr. Linda Prentice admits that it's hard to find the time to participate, but for her, it's worth the commitment. Patients can ask anything — no matter how embarrassing the topic. "In this situation I think people feel comfortable asking the questions, because it's a little more anonymous," Dr. Prentice said. "If they don't get a positive response, then they're comfortable moving to the next person."
Harris' goal is to find a doctor she can really click with, before the facilitator waves her magic wand to mover her to the next doctor. If she had her own magic wand, Harris would have wished for one more thing:
"A little bit more time to be able to talk with the physicians and be able to delve into the questions," she said.
Mandy Forbus said patients often don't realize a doctor isn't right for them until they're sitting in an office. She created the Doc Shop so that patients can find the right chemistry before they hook up with a doctor.
For Sharon Harris, it worked; she found a perfect match.
The next Doc Shop is scheduled for November 4 from noon to 1 p.m. Call 847-9355. There is no charge.
E-mail cizzy@wfaa.com
