Finding the right primary physician for your health needs is essential. Your health should be at the top of the priority list. All other things in life follow after good health.
To ensure you put your health first, you must find a healthcare professional who’ll keep your best interest in mind. Unfortunately, not all primary care doctors/offices are the same. Some will be better than others and know how to handle your health needs better.
How will you know how to separate the right doctor for you vs the others? There are a few factors to consider when selecting a good doctor for your health needs. Continue reading below to find out more!
Review Your Network
One of the first things you may want to do is review all of the doctors in your insurance network. To find out what doctors are covered under your health insurance, you can contact your insurance provider directly. They should be able to give you a list of primary care physicians in your area that are covered.
If you have a doctor you want to see but aren’t sure if they’re in your network, then you can contact your insurance provider and ask them to look up that specific doctor as well. Doctor offices may be able to tell you what health insurance they accept also. Remember, if the doctor you choose isn’t in your network, you’ll need to pay for your appointments out of pocket.
For this reason, it’s always a good idea to start with a list of doctors your insurance will cover and go from there.
Ask for References
The next step you can take is to ask your friends and family for references. If your friends and family have primary care doctors who they enjoy visiting and believe are good doctors, then you can begin looking into these doctors as well. Your friends and family are the best people to ask for references.
They’ll give you honest reviews on the doctors that you can trust. Once they’ve given you a few references, you can then do your own separate research on those doctors to determine which one might be the best fit for you.
Understand the Office Hours
Because your health needs come before anything else, it’s important to know what the office hours are before choosing a doctor’s office. Do their available hours work well with your own schedule? Are they open before and after your shift at work?
Do they have weekend availability? If you were to need a doctor in the middle of the night, then is there an after-hours line for you to contact? These are all important questions to get the answers to.
You want a doctor that’s available to help you no matter when you might need them. Contact the office and ask about their regular hours and after hours.
Research Reviews
Although references from friends and family are a great way to get some honest insight, it’s still a good idea to research reviews online as well. Take the time to review the doctor‘s website. Does it seem reputable?
Look for reviews on their website and on third-party review sites as well. You can also check social media pages for reviews. Be sure to read through all the reviews to get a good idea of what you can expect when you make your own appointment with them.
Inquire About Experience
If you have any type of special needs or health issues, then it’s best to find a doctor who has experience helping other patients with the same type of health needs. For example, if you currently battle with diabetes, then be sure to find a doctor with experience helping patients with diabetes.
Their general experience working as a doctor combined with specialized experience handling patients with health needs similar to yours will make an excellent doctor for you. You can find this information by looking over their website or contacting them directly with any questions you may have.
Take Note of Customer Service
Customer service is another essential factor to consider. You want a doctor and office staff that’ll treat you like a human being and not just another number. You can call the office and speak with the staff to determine how they’ll treat you if you were to become a patient.
You can also ask about visiting the office before your appointment for a tour. Office tours are beneficial because you can get an idea of where the office is located, get an opinion about the office itself and the cleanliness, and of course, meet the doctor and all the staff. Take note of how they treat you during this time and how they treat other patients in the office.
Consider the Office’s Location
The office location plays a crucial role in deciding what doctor is the right one for you because you’ll want an office that’s convenient. Unless there’s a doctor you absolutely must see that’s located far away, it’s a good idea to find one close to your home or work.
This way, when it comes time to see them, you won’t have to worry about going out of your way. If there’s some type of emergency, the doctor will be close by.
Look Into Appointment Options
What type of appointment options does your doctor provide? Can they offer you both in-person visits and virtual or phone visits? Different appointment options come in handy if you need to speak with your doctor but are unable to visit the office in person.
Call the office and inquire about the different options. Now is also the perfect time to ask about new patient forms and what all documents you need to provide them when scheduling your first appointment. Check out more here about preparing for your first appointment with a new doctor.
Find the Right Doctor for Your Health Needs
Following the steps listed above is a great way to ensure you find the right doctor for all your health needs. Your health needs are important and the doctor you see should know about your specific needs and how to help you as an individual patient.
For more topics on health, check back here on a regular basis.