Choosing The Best Family Practice Doctor

By Odessa Edwards


The selection of a family practice doctor is one that should not be made lightly. Because this person will be one's primary health care practitioner, he or she must be someone with whom the patient has a good rapport, as well as someone who possesses all the necessary qualifications. However, when first setting out to make this choice, many individuals feel somewhat overwhelmed. The following tips will help simplify the selection process:

The first thing a consumer should do is determine which type of practice he or she prefers. A large practice with numerous physicians may have emergency hours, more timeslots for office visits, and other benefits. On the other hand, a smaller office may offer care that is more individualized, even if the aforementioned benefits are not offered.

Contacting a representative at the company that provides one's health insurance is a good step to take. This will help the patient to make sure he or she chooses a physician who is covered under the insurance plan. After several names are obtained from the insurance representative, the patient can narrow his or her list down to the ones with the type of practice he or she prefers.

Getting recommendations from relatives, coworkers, and personal friends is always a wise course of action. Most people will be happy to relate their experiences, whether good or bad, to another individual who is thinking of going to their doctor. There is also a vast array of physician review sites online, where one can discover vital information, such as whether or not a physician has ever received disciplinary action from the AMA.

The location of the physician's office is also an important consideration. It is a good idea for prospective clients to ask themselves if it is essential to have a doctor's office that is located nearby their place of employment or residence. Selecting a provider who has a practice that is located near one's workplace or dwelling can make wellness visits and regular checkups more convenient. However, a professional should not be chosen based only on this aspect.

Creating a list of priorities is a worthwhile endeavor as well. The priority list should contain the aspects that one considers to be most important. For example, a potential client may wish to find out if a particular practitioner charges for telephone consultations. He or she may also want to discover the doctor's approach to holistic or complementary treatments. Each patient's priorities will be unique to his or her situation.

Is also wise to contact the potential providers on one's list in person. The person should telephone the practice and explain that he or she is searching for a primary health care practitioner and ask whether or not the doctor is accepting new patients. One should use this phone call to learn about the policies of that particular office, and also determine whether or not the staff is friendly and willing to answer questions.

Selecting the best family practice doctor can make a big difference in the experience one has when treatment is needed. With a little time and effort, the most appropriate physician can be found. The aforementioned steps will help consumers to simplify the process and ideally find the most suitable practitioner for their needs.




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