Finding a new family physician can be a very real challenge for many people. Often they have a wonderful relationship with a current primary care doctor that has to end because the people move away, the doctor retires or perhaps the doctor moves the office to a new location.
Regardless of the reason, there are some tips and strategies that will help you to find a new family physician that meets all the requirements and expectations you have.
Review Online
Searching online is a very easy way to narrow down your options for a family practice in your neighborhood or area. Just remember that being close to a family doctor makes a lot of sense, particularly if you have children. With the doctor close to where you live there is less need to pull children out of school or have to plan to travel to get to an appointment.
Check for office hours, options to refer to other trusted professionals and even if the doctor is associated with an urgent care clinic for after hour and weekend appointments.
Check Reputation
In any area of the United States, you can check for complaints or actions against a medical professional. Simply go to the state licensing website and search by the doctor’s first and last name.
There are also great online review sites that allow patients to rate their experience with a family physician or a specialist based on factors such as quality of care, average wait time for appointments and even the professionalism of the clinic or office staff.
Another important strategy to find the right family doctor is to make a list of any specialized services your family requires or any current health conditions you are managing. This will ensure that the doctor you select will have training and experience in helping patients with these types of health considerations.
