A family doctor is your go-to doctor whenever you need non-emergent medical care, including routine screenings and check-ups. Unlike emergency care doctors, specialists, or Instacare physicians, a primary care physician manages most of your basic healthcare needs and can assist you when you are facing common medical issues. They understand your complete medical history, how you react to medication, and your treatment preferences. Since your primary care physician knows your healthcare needs on an intimate level, they can also refer you to specialists when needed and coordinate your care when multiple specialists are involved. Due to this, it is important to know how to choose a family doctor.
Choosing a family medicine doctor you trust is vital to your long-term health. Coordinated and routine care is essential for the management of chronic illnesses, early diagnosis of severe or life-threatening diseases, and preventative care. When a family physician treats the entire family, many medical conditions that sometimes arise from certain socio-economic or living situations can be treated through total family care, such as transmittable illnesses like the flu. . (Discover five other reasons why you need a primary care physician by reading our in-depth blog post.)
But how do you choose the primary care physician that is best suited to you and your family?
A patient-primary care physician relationship can last for years, so it is essential to find a doctor that meets your needs and who you can rely on to efficiently and accurately manage your care. To help you narrow down your choices, the Layton primary care physicians at Tanner Clinic put together a list of practical considerations patients should use when looking for a new family medicine doctor.
FIVE TIPS FOR CHOOSING YOUR FAMILY DOCTOR IN UTAH
1. SEARCH YOUR NETWORK
Many medical studies show that cost is a major barrier when looking for healthcare. Find an in-network provider for lower out-of-pocket costs.
Fortunately, most insurance companies list their in-network providers online. Your insurance plan should list your co-pays for routine check-ups, family care physicians, and specialists along with co-pays for prescriptions, laboratory tests, and surgical procedures. If your preferred provider isn’t listed online, you can call each doctor to see if they are an in-network provider and what their fee agreement is with your insurance company,
2. ASK FOR RECOMMENDATIONS
After searching your network for a primary care physician, you should ask for recommendations from people you trust. If you are searching for a new doctor after switching insurance providers, you can ask your previous doctor for recommendations. Other medical specialists, like surgeons, optometrists, dentists, physical therapists, chiropractors, and pharmacists can also point you in the right direction. Many turn to family, friends, and colleagues for information about family medicine doctors they use or have liked in the past.
Along with asking healthcare providers and those you trust for recommendations, you can read online performance reviews. Every year physicians receive a performance review to help them implement feedback suited to their patient needs. You can use these assessments, as well as reviews posted by patients online, as you search for your new family medicine doctor. In fact, a recent survey found that 84% of patients use online reviews to evaluate doctors. If a primary care physician doesn’t have any reviews online, they may be new to the area or clinic.
Here are ten healthcare provider review sites to browse as you make your decision:
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- Healthgrades
- Vitals
- RateMDs
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3. CONSIDER ACCESSIBILITY
There are a few factors to think about when considering accessibility. Ask yourself these questions to narrow down your healthcare provider options:
HOW EASY IS IT TO GET TO THE PRIMARY CARE PHYSICIAN’S OFFICE?
Is the doctor’s office near you, or will you need to travel farther away than you would like for your appointments? Start by compiling a list of family medicine doctors within a 10- to 15- mile radius by searching “family doctors near me.” Then, you can compare this list with those doctors in your health insurance network.
If distance isn’t a priority, you can choose a primary care physician with an office further away, especially if the doctor is more qualified for your unique healthcare needs. Weigh your options and decide which factors rank highest on your list of priorities.
WHERE DOES THE FAMILY MEDICINE DOCTOR PERFORM PROCEDURES?
You should also ask your prospective healthcare provider where they perform basic procedures like x-rays, lab tests, and minor surgeries. Some family medicine doctors will perform the bulk of procedures in-office, while others rely on separate locations for certain tasks. If the physician needs you to travel to other facilities than their office, you will need to find out if those facilities are easily accessible.
WILL THIS HEALTHCARE PROVIDER BE AVAILABLE WHEN YOU NEED AN APPOINTMENT?
Another question you should ask yourself is if the prospective primary care physician can meet your availability needs. What hours is the practice open? Does the family medicine doctor offer on-call services? Is the physician normally on-time, or will you need to wait on them to finish other appointments before meeting with you?
Many primary care physicians are now offering online or over-the-phone appointment services. This new healthcare style is especially helpful as doctors navigate the COVID-19 pandemic. You can use these online services to receive routine care while staying safe at home. Ask your prospective family medicine doctors if they offer telemedicine services or plan on implementing online care in the future.
4. ASK ABOUT SPECIALIZED CARE
Your specialized healthcare needs will impact your choice of a primary care physician. As you consider what you need from your family medicine doctor, determine whether they are specialized in the field specific to your unique medical needs. Many primary care physicians are also board-certified in other areas.
As you select a primary care physician best suited for you, make arrangements to meet with your prospective physician to ask about your specific needs and their ability to provide specialized care. Most physicians will be upfront about their specialties and whether they are the best doctor to provide your care. Depending upon your needs, your primary physician may be an internist, a family medicine doctor, or a general practitioner.
5. COMMUNICATION & OFFICE STAFF
Your prospective primary care provider will have a team of professionals including nurses and office staff working to provide you with care. When you visit your family medicine doctor, it is crucial to analyze the quality of customer care you receive from the entire team. Are your phone calls answered promptly or returned right away? Will your test results be relayed quickly? If your physician is not available for immediate care, are there other physicians in the office who can provide temporary services?
Another critical factor is your physician’s patient load and the amount of time they have to spend with you. Ask how far in advance you must schedule your appointments? Find out whether you must wait in the office to be seen when you have an appointment scheduled. Learn about billing procedures. Check out the environment. Does it seem clean and friendly? Meet the nurses and technicians who may be tending to you.
Finally, determine whether you have a good rapport with your prospective family medicine doctor. You will be discussing sensitive topics at times, and you must trust your physician to discuss your situation openly and honestly.
FIND A FAMILY DOCTOR IN LAYTON AT TANNER CLINIC
If you are searching for a family care provider in Utah, look to Tanner Clinic. With over 140 providers, 30 diverse specialties, and nine different medical centers throughout Davis and Weber Counties in Utah, Tanner Clinic provides a comprehensive network of skilled professionals you can trust.
Whenever you visit any of our Layton primary care physicians, you will also receive the Tanner Clinic experience provided by our incredible support staff. Rely on our board-certified physicians to manage your health care using the latest state-of-the-art technology and best practices.
You can look for a family medicine doctor using our online tools by searching their location, specialty, or name. Contact us to set up an appointment with a family doctor in Layton.