Kelly from Alberta asks: I see a rheumatologist but want to switch. How do I do that?
While most rheumatologists provide excellent care, we recognize not everyones’ personalities are a perfect fit, and that sometimes can affect care. We always encourage individuals to give your rheumatologist a fair try to ensure there truly is a mismatch. It really takes 6-12 months to determine this, which would be 3-4 visits typically. If you still think you want to consider different care, discussing this with your rheumatologist is a good idea. An honest respectful conversation may help the relationship, but most rheumatologists also respect the need for a second opinion and can help facilitate this. Your family doctor can also do this if you are not comfortable. If you are seeking a third opinion or more, that becomes more challenging to arrange. The wait times to see a rheumatologist are too long, and there needs to be a balance between optimizing the care relationship and ensuring everyone gets access to a rheumatologist.
Posted: August 3, 2026
Tagged: rheumatologist