Allergy treatment is essential if you or your child is suffering from allergies and they’re impacting daily life. Treatment begins with an allergy test. If you are interested in starting allergy management treatment for yourself or for your child, you may be wondering where to begin and where to have the allergy test performed.
Ask Your Primary Care Physician
As with many medical conditions, sometimes a great place to begin your search is with your primary care physician. They may have an allergist they already have a relationship with and trust, or they can provide a referral if the allergist requires one.
Some PCPs can also order allergy tests, but they can only order a blood test. Skin prick tests must be performed by an allergist. Furthermore, we recommend getting your allergy testing done with an allergist so they can work with the information right away.
Consider the Location
Location, location, location. Allergy treatment often requires multiple visits to the clinic, so it is much more convenient to visit a clinic that is located close to your home, so you don’t have to spend too much time traveling. Moreover, the closer the allergist is to your home, the more familiar they’ll be with the local allergy triggers that may be plaguing you. Begin your search by finding clinics near you, then widen the radius if necessary.
Check the Allergist’s Credentials and Experience
Once you have a list of allergist clinics close to your home, review their credentials. You’ll want to work with a qualified professional who specializes in allergies and allergy management. Look for clinics that have board-certified allergists and immunologists and review the allergists’ education and years of practice.
Evaluate the Services Offered
If there’s a specific specialization you’re looking for—for example, pediatrics or asthma—make sure the clinic can provide that specialization. Also, check that the clinic offers comprehensive allergy services. This could include:
- Skin prick and blood test for allergy testing
- Food allergy testing, if necessary
- Allergy shots or allergy drops (immunotherapy)
- Asthma evaluations
Confirm that they offer personalized treatment plans. Once your allergy test is performed, the allergist will have the information necessary to recommend treatment for you or your child. It would be incredibly inconvenient if you needed to take your results to another clinic and begin your hunt again.
Read Patient Reviews
Finally, read patient reviews and testimonials. These will give you a good idea of the care and treatment you can expect.
If you’re ready to begin your allergy treatment journey with Willamette ENT & Facial Plastic Surgery, call us today. The Willamette Valley will be blossoming before you know it; let’s get your personalized treatment action plan underway before that happens.
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“Dr. Strand is wonderful. In fact, all the staff are just the best. Personable, and to the point. You will be well cared for at Willamette ENT.”