Whether you’ve just moved to a new city, your old doctor has retired, or you’re just ready to transfer your care to someone new, it’s important to know how to pick the right primary care doctor for you and your family. So much of your health will depend on this doctor’s ability to provide you with quality care, so it’s wise to take your time in finding the right fit.
To help you with this, here are three tips for picking a new primary care provider for your family.
Find Someone In Your Network
If you have medical insurance, the most important thing for you to look for when getting a new primary care provider is someone in your insurance network. In many instances, if you don’t see a doctor that’s in your insurance network, Elaine K. Howley, a contributor to U.S. News and World Report, shares that your medical services won’t be covered in the way that they otherwise would be. This could cost you a lot of money in addition to what you’re already paying for insurance.
Along with finding someone in your insurance network, you should also tap into your personal network and ask for their suggestions or referrals to try to find a doctor that’s already been vetted by someone that you trust.
Research The Doctors Standing And Reputation
Once you’ve created a small list of the doctors that you’d consider bringing your family to, you should then do some more in-depth research about those doctors and their reputation and standing with the medical board.
Dr. Brunilda Nazario, a contributor to WebMD.com, shares that you can check through various online resources to see if there have been any complaints or disciplinary actions have been taken against any of these doctors for medical malpractice reasons. If you do find anything on these websites, that should be taken as a red flag.
Do Some Trial Runs For Compatibility
Along with finding a primary care provider that is a responsible medical professional, you should also be concerned with a doctor that fits well with you and your family in your lifestyle and personalities.
To determine this, Joel Keehn, a contributor to Consumer Reports, recommends that you use your first visit with your doctor to really judge things like if the doctor listened to you, if your questions were adequately answered, how comfortable you were with the treatment, and more. Even if it takes seeing a few different doctors to find the one that’s right for your family, it will be well worth it when you’re finally able to find someone that you’re all compatible with.
If you’re needing to find a new doctor for your family, consider using the tips mentioned above to help you pick the right provider.