How to Select a Primary Care Doctor

With the cost of rising insurance premiums and medical care it is more important than ever to be sure you select a qualified primary care physician. Follow these simple steps to be sure you are getting quality and cost effective care.

Difficulty: Easy

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• An understanding of your insurance coverage and premiums.
• A list of qualified and covered providers in your area.

1. Write a list of your preferences. Would you prefer a male doctor or a female doctor? Would you like someone with a lot of experience or someone who is just starting out that you will have for many years? Would you like to have your whole family seen by the same doctor or someone who specializes in care of older adults?

2. Ask trusted friends and neighbors for references. Word of mouth can be the best way to find a quality provider. Ask them why they like or dislike their doctor and decide if these reasons are important to you.

3. Check with other medical providers for references. If you like and trust your cardiologist ask them who they would send a family member to for medical care. If you have a friend or relative that is a nurse on a medical floor ask who they would trust.

4. Check to see if a doctor has privileges at the hospital that you would like to receive care if you needed to be an inpatient. Would this be a convenient hospital for you and your family to get to?

5. Check to see where the medical office is located. Are they at a free standing clinic or are they on hospital grounds? Assess if it will be difficult to park or get into the building.

6. Get more information from the office staff. Medical offices can usually tell you how many years the doctor has been in practice and if they specialize in certain medical conditions. Remember that new doctors are not always poor choices. Medical school will expose them to new treatments and cutting edge technologies that will be an advantage to your care.

7. See how easy it is to make an appointment. If the doctor is booking ahead 2 weeks for urgent appointments this may not be ideal. Rude office staff or offices that have you leave a message on an answering machine may be a source of frustration. If you avoid going to the doctor because it is too difficult to make an appointment you may want to evaluate your selection.

8. Make an appointment to interview your candidate choice. Remember when it comes to finding a good primary care physician you are the consumer. Some offices will allow you to do this without having to pay for an appointment. Make a list of questions and your medical conditions. See if the doctor is qualified in what you need for your medical care. Assess if you able to hear and understand the doctor and if they have a good bedside manner. Ask if the doctor has a treatment plan to assist you with obtaining annual health screens. Discuss if you will have to ask for an annual cholesterol test or a repeat colonoscopy or will your doctor alert you to when these are needed. A good doctor should always tell you when to make your next appointment even if it is in one year for a repeat annual exam.

9. See what other services are offered at the same clinic. A diabetic may benefit from nutritional services at the same site. A multidisciplinary approach may be a benefit for certain medical conditions.

10. Most important is remember you are a consumer when it comes to finding a suitable primary care physician. If you feel that your doctor is not assisting you to achieve your health goals it is time to shop for someone else. It may be necessary to try several doctors before finding the perfect match for you.