Are you looking for a family doctor? If yes, let us delve into the things that you should consider before choosing one. And mind you, deciding on who your family doctor will be is not a walk-in-the-park.
First, let us know what family doctors are and how they differ from specialists.
Family doctors are like one-stop shops for medical care. They are dedicated to treating the general concerns of a person. While specialists focus on a certain organ, disease, or gender, family physicians treat every organ and disease regardless of gender and age. The foundation of family medicine is a continuous and personal patient-doctor relationship whose emphasis is on integrated and preventive care.
A family doctor’s duties include the provision of screening tests and immunizations, the performance of wide-ranging health-risk assessments and wellness examinations, and diagnosis and treatment of illnesses. Through the analysis and evaluation of data, they will devise an individualized program of treatment. Results will be monitored and will be adapted to the changing health conditions.
Doctors in family medicine will also deliver personalized counselling so that the patient can keep up a healthy lifestyle. Family doctors also supervise chronic health conditions, and when the situation requires, they will arrange care with other specialists. They collect patient information, as well as record, and maintain those. This includes a medical history and the results of every administered exam. Also, they deliver babies and carry out necessary operations.
Below are eight things to put in mind when choosing the right family doctor for you.
1. Do the research and ask around
The best step to finding a great family doctor is to research. Looking for a doctor should not be done only when the illness has already struck because by then, you might not have enough time to decide on where and who to get the best medical care from.
You can also ask your relatives and friends about their physicians and ask for their recommendations. Usually, we get sound advice from the people’s trust. But be reminded though that just because a doctor was excellent for one person does not automatically mean that he would be best for you.
2. Consider proximity or location
Since a family doctor will be involved in your daily health needs, proximity or location is important. Your doctor should be within easy reach or in a location convenient to you. To travel very far when you are sick is something that you would not want to do. On the contrary, when your doctor is just nearby, you tend to be keener in keeping your appointments for physical care and other preventive procedures.
3. Check with your insurance provider
After you have listed down viable candidates, it is time to verify whether or not a specific doctor works with your health plan. You should first call the doctor to know if they accept healthcare insurance patients. You also need to get in touch with your insurance provider first or you can also visit your plan’s website to determine if a specific doctor is in its network. Usually, plans will demand higher payment if the doctor you have chosen is outside their network. Therefore, you should do this step first before setting an appointment schedule.
4. Ensure the quality
For sure, you would not contract somebody to do some repairs in a home without checking out their work quality. You should do the same in selecting a family doctor.
If ever you have one, check with your insurance company any available information about the quality evaluations of particular care specialists within their network.
Aside from having the comprehensive exams in internal medicine and meeting their state’s licensing requirements, board-certified doctors have to keep up with the most recent developments in their respective fields to maintain such certification.
5. Make an initial call
You can create your initial impression of your potential doctor’s practice by making an initial call at his office. For instance, through a simple call, you can evaluate the staff’s phone etiquette.
6. Inquire about logistical matters and if they do virtual appointments
In that initial call, you will have a sense of how the clinic works by asking some questions. For instance, you can ask how they inform you of your test results, how they manage prescription refills, whether the email or online scheduling of appointments are available, whether the doctor conducts virtual visits, or if the clinic will call to remind you in case you are past due for a flu shot or an annual screening.
7. Always think of your needs
Every individual has specific health requirements, and as individual ages, those needs likewise change. Thus, you must check on the doctor’s fields of interest or specialties to your changing needs.
For instance, if you are not into sports, a doctor who specializes in sports medicine may not be the finest option for you. But if you are diabetic, you should look for a doctor that treats a considerable number of diabetic patients or a doctor with a special interest in diabetes care. These are matters that you need to inquire into during your initial call.
8. Check the doctor’s patient care philosophy
Your doctor’s care line philosophy should be in tune with yours. If his viewpoints on caring for patients substantially align with yours, you will be more inclined to adhere to his recommendations.
Following these eight things can help you a lot in building that ever-important patient-doctor relationship for your health and wellbeing. To finally help you make that crucial decision, consider reaching out to an online walk-in clinic Thunder Bay. They offer healthcare services that will best suit your ever-changing needs.