How to pick the right primary care doctor

The best way to ensure you are happy with your medical care is to put some thought into picking the right primary care doctor.

First, you need a list of doctors who take your insurance plan. Get that by calling your medical insurer or looking up the information online. If you have your heart set on a doctor who is not covered by your insurance plan, you will want to find out how much you have to pay out-of-pocket to visit that doctor.

Ask yourself some questions:
– Do you want a male or female doctor?
– How far are you willing to drive to the doctor’s office — especially when you don’t feel well?
– If you don’t have a car, is the office accessible via public transportation?
– Do you want a young doctor, fresh out of residency, or an older doctor with more experience?
– Can the office do lab tests and X-rays on-site, or do you have to go elsewhere?
– Does it matter to you if your doctor has privileges at a certain hospital?
– Is the office staff helpful and friendly?
– How long is the wait for an appointment?
– Does the office handle insurance claims, or do you have to pay and then file claims yourself?
– What are the doctor’s credentials? Is he or she board-certified in family medicine or internal medicine?

You can check to see if a doctor is currently licensed in many locations by doing a search through the Administrators in Medicine site (http://administratorsinmedicine.org).

After you’ve met with your doctor, you may have other considerations. Keep in mind that most primary care doctors — known as general or family practice doctors — may have only 10 or 15 minutes to see you in a busy office.

– Do you feel comfortable talking to your doctor and having a meaningful conversation?
– Does your doctor listen to you and answer your questions to your satisfaction?
– Do you feel that your doctor cares about your needs and takes you seriously?

A little thought can go a long way toward getting the right doctor, and remember, you can always change doctors if you’re not happy with your experience.