Free Medical Articles

One of the most important decisions you will ever make is choosing a primary care physician. You must find a doctor that you are comfortable with. A doctor cannot be of much help if he or she has difficulty communicating with you.

This is particularly true because a good relationship with your doctor is more like an equal partnership than a "parent-child" or "authority-subordinate" relationship. For optimal results, both you and your doctor must work together to maintain your health, prevent medical problems and address any problems that now exist.

Why do I need a primary care doctor?

Having a regular primary care doctor is an important advantage when it comes to maintaining your health. The doctor you choose will get to know you and will know what your health is normally like. If a change in your health comes up, the doctor will be more likely to recognize it and act on it than someone who doesn't know you or your medical history very well.

A regular primary care doctor can also help you make decisions that are consistent with your values, lifestyle and habits. If you need to see other medical specialists or health care providers, your primary care doctor can keep in touch with them and make sure the treatments recommended by different providers are compatible with each other.

Finally, if you belong to an HMO, you are typically required to have a primary care doctor and must see this doctor before consulting a specialist or pay for the specialist visit yourself. See your health insurance member information or call the member information number to find out the specific requirements of your own health insurance company.

If you don't have a regular primary care doctor or you're not comfortable with the doctor you have, choose a new one. (Be sure you understand any insurance restrictions that may apply before you do.)

What to consider when choosing your doctor

Here are some suggestions for things to think of when selecting your doctor. You should decide which considerations are most important to you.

Do you have to choose a doctor who is affiliated with your insurance plan? Are you restricted to a list of physicians distributed by your insurance provider?

• Do you need to choose a doctor who accepts Medicare?
• Where is the doctor's office? Is it easy for you to get to?
• At which hospital does the doctor admit patients? If you need hospital care, is it important to you that it is at a particular hospital?
• What kind of training does the doctor have? Is he or she board-certified and in what field?
• Do you feel it's important to see a male or female doctor, an older or younger doctor, or a doctor of a particular religion?
• Do you prefer to see a single doctor consistently, or do you feel a group practice is all right?

Steps to take when choosing your primary care doctor

First, decide what qualities are most important to you in your primary care doctor. If you have to take the requirements of your health insurance into account when choosing doctors, be sure you understand what these requirements are and which physicians accept your health insurance.

Next, ask your friends and relatives to recommend names of doctors in your area and to tell you why they feel positively about the doctors they're suggesting. If you need to choose from a list of doctors provided by an insurance company, ask your friends or relatives if they know any of the doctors on the list.

You may also be able to find two helpful references in your library: The Directory of Physicians in the United States and the Official American Board of Medical Specialties Directory of Board-Certified Medical Specialists. These references can give you more names of doctors to investigate and will allow you to verify that a physician actually is board-certified in a particular specialty.

At this point, try to find out more about the doctor you are considering. Call their offices and speak to the office staff. Note whether you like the office staff and find them helpful if you choose this doctor. You will have to interact with them often. The office staff should be able to answer a number of important questions:

• Is the doctor taking new patients?
• Is the doctor affiliated with my insurance or does the doctor accept Medicare?
• What is the doctor's education and qualifications?
• What are the doctor's office hours for seeing patients?
• Does the doctor ever make house calls for housebound patients?
• At what hospital does the doctor admit patients?
• How soon can I make an appointment to see the doctor?
• How long does an average visit usually last?
• How long will I generally need to wait to see the doctor?
• What is the office policy for patients who have an emergency and need medical attention quickly?
• Who would I be able to call if the doctor is away and I need medical attention?
• What are the office payment policies?

If you are satisfied with the answers, you can ask to make an appointment to meet and speak with the doctor before actually becoming a new patient. Remember that you may be charged for this visit and clarify this with the office staff.

What to do during your first "get-acquainted" meeting

If you have made an appointment to speak with the doctor, come prepared with the questions. You may also want to take notes. Here are some questions you could ask:

• How aggressive are you about making diagnoses and treating medical conditions? Or do you prefer to be conservative?
• Are you usually aware of the costs of medications you prescribe?
• Do you have many older patients? What are your views on health and older patients?
• Are you comfortable discussing advance directives with me? For example, if I should need a living will or a durable power of attorney for health care, will I be able to discuss this with you in advance?
• How do you feel about involving my family in health care decisions, if necessary?
• Do you still work with your patients after they move to a nursing home?

Finally, ask yourself:

• How do you feel speaking to the doctor?
• Can you talk comfortably?
• Does the doctor appear to be listening to you?

If the answers are "yes" and the doctor appears to have the qualities you are looking for, then make your choice.

If you are not satisfied, schedule a meeting with another doctor on your list and try again.

I've chosen my doctor. Now what?

Once you have chosen your doctor, make your first appointment so the doctor can take your history and examine you. Remember to bring your medical records, or ask to have them sent to your new doctor's office well in advance. You should also remember to bring a list of all your current medications: both prescription drugs and over-the-counter remedies such as aspirin, vitamins or herbal preparations.

Try to keep the information you provide your doctor organized and concise. Don't wander off the main topic into non-health related subjects.

For  More   Information:  Please  consult  your   physician  on  your  next  visit.