Don’t Wait to Feel Sick Before Going Out to Find Best Physician for the Case : Health: Patients who are partners in their own care may be diagnosed more accurately, respond better to treatment and recover more quickly, according to Consumer Reports magazine studies.

Sneezing, wheezing and a fever of 101 degrees means it’s time to see a doctor. But waiting until you are sick to select a doctor could have lifelong consequences for you or your family. It’s best done before you need one.

So, feeling good? Now’s the perfect time to go doctor shopping.

But it can be a very tricky proposition.

Several hay fever seasons ago, I decided to visit an allergist, described as one of the best in the city by New York magazine. His waiting room was crowded with patients, many of whom looked as if they’d been there hours. His secretary, a lit cigarette dangling from her mouth, had open charts scattered over her desk.

I went elsewhere. But had I visited his office and met him before I had an emergency, I would have avoided quite a bit of anger and annoyance, not to mention sneezing.

Most Americans are intimidated by doctors. Too many people see them as all-knowing and all-powerful. And while doctors may know many things the rest of us do not, it could be a dangerous mistake to assume doctors always know best.

In essence, getting medical care--buying it, if you will--is no different than choosing a car mechanic, a plumber or a gardener. The person is providing a service. If the service is well done and the doctor-patient relationship is satisfactory, great. But if the care is slap-dash and the relationship is not satisfying, find someone else.

According to Consumer Reports magazine, which looked at patient-doctor relationships in its February issue, two decades of studies have shown you’re likely to do better medically if you and your doctor communicate and make it easy to be actively involved in your health care.

If a doctor works with you as a partner, rather than as a passive patient, you’re more likely to feel in control, tolerate symptoms well and take responsibility for yourself.

Patients who take the upper hand may be diagnosed more accurately, respond better to treatment and recover more quickly, the magazine’s studies concluded.

The role of doctor as an unquestionable authority has centuries of tradition behind it. In fact, Hippocrates advised doctors not to discuss illnesses or treatment with patients.

It wasn’t until the 1970s that a patient-centered approach to medical care began to take hold. Today, medical students are given hands-on training in dealing with patients’ emotional needs as well as physical ones.

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The easiest way to select a doctor, even if you are a member of a health maintenance organization or managed care group, is through recommendations from family or friends.

Patients should feel free to interview doctors before seeking treatment and ask about their education, training and membership in professional associations.

Most doctors display their credentials. So look at them. You also can check out their credentials in the American Medical Assn.’s American Medical Directory, available in most public libraries.

To see if any action has been taken against a doctor’s license, check with the state medical licensing board, located in state capitals and in major cities.

The doctor’s office is a good window to the kind of medicine they practice. Like the doctor I chose not to go to, long waits and messy offices could indicate real problems.

The American Medical Assn. says patients should expect a clean office and privacy during interviews, examinations, treatments and consultations.

On the topic of changing doctors, the AMA, considered by many as a conservative mouthpiece for the medical profession, also notes in a public service pamphlet, “You should not hesitate to make this decision if you feel that another physician can better meet your needs.

“You should inform your current physician of your decision and request that a summary of your medical history and records be sent to your new physician,” the AMA advises.

At HMOs, which served about 17% of the population in 1993, the last year for which figures are available, members must choose from a list of health-care providers.

At U.S. Healthcare, one of the nation’s largest managed health-care groups, patients are told of their rights and responsibilities. The rights include receiving considerate and courteous care, participating in decisions, getting reasonable access to services and being kept informed by the doctor.

But patients have responsibilities as well. Be on time for appointments, communicate with the doctor and be open and honest about your medical history so the best possible care can be provided.