If you have moved to a new city or house, you might find it hard to reach out to your family doctor. When you don’t have a family doctor then you might be missing out on a lot of important relationships in health and wellness. A family doctor is more than just a doctor.
Over time your family doctor learns about your medical history, response to medications, health goals, lifestyle, treatment preferences, and much more. People with primary care physicians are more likely to use preventive services like cancer screening and have better access to health care. With increasing age, our needs and functional abilities change so it’s great to have a competent doctor who will guide you through the healthcare system.
Here are some tips to help you choose a good doctor for you and your family.
Ask for Recommendations
The first step to finding a good doctor is to ask for recommendations from your family and friends. A referral from a trusted person is a great way to find a highly qualified doctor.
But you need to remember that everyone is different. Just because a doctor was perfectly fine for your friend, does not mean that will work for you as well. So, make sure that you consult with the doctor first to get an idea of how they will proceed with things.
Visit an integrative medicine clinic to consult an experienced doctor so that the root of your health issue can be identified.
Check Your Health Plan
After having a few doctors on your list, check to see if they are compatible with your health plan. Call the doctor’s office and ask if they accept the type of insurance that you have.
You can also check with your insurance provider and check your plan’s website to check whether the doctor is part of your plan’s network. Most people get charged with high medical bills for seeing a doctor outside the network plan. It is important to take this step before making an appointment.
Perform Quality Control
Choose a doctor based on their quality of services. Whether you are going for a general checkup or breast augmentation, visit a doctor who focuses on providing the best quality health care. You can also check with your insurance company to see if they have information on quality assessments from some of the doctors in your network.
Check through the certification matters board website to see if your doctor is certified. Moreover, doctors also need to keep up to date with the latest developments in the field to maintain certification so you can trust them more.
Identify Your Needs
Everyone has individual medical needs that change with progressing age. Ask your doctor about their areas of specialty and interest. For example, a cardiologist can help you stay healthy if you suffer from heart problems. If you have a chronic condition like diabetes then you need to see a doctor who specializes in treating diabetic patients.
After identifying your needs and priorities, you can better understand what kind of doctor can help you lead a healthy lifestyle.
