How to Pick a Family Doctor

Being in good health is critical to the happiness and success of your family - making your choice of a family doctor one of the most important decisions you will make. Here is how to choose wisely.

Instructions

Difficulty: Moderate

Things You’ll Need:

• A PC with an Internet connection
• A telephone
• Your insurance paperwork and physician guides

1. Have a family meeting and decide what you are all looking for in a doctor. Do you want a chatty, country doctor who will spend time with you, or an ultra-efficient modern doctor who will take care of business quickly? Are you inclined to use natural remedies, or do you place all your faith in modern medicine? Write down your ideal profile.
2. Formulate questions for doctors that center around your ideal profile.
3. Call friends and relatives to see if they have any recommendations.
4. Visit doctor review sites such as Healthgrades.com to check out the recommendations you received, and to generate more possibilities in your area.
5. Review your doctor list against the list provided by your insurance company as covered.
6. Set up appointments with the doctors who make the "cut" - ask questions generated in step one above. If possible, take other family members so they can give their feedback too.
7. Choose the doctor with the best recommendations that you also feel comfortable with.

Tips & Warnings

• Observe how long the doctor takes with each patient while you are in the waiting room.
• Make sure you feel totally comfortable with whomever you choose - you may sometimes have to tell your doctor embarrassing truths, and you need to choose someone you can be honest with.