Selecting a good primary care physician is one of the most important things you need to do for your health. Primary care physician should be seen as a trusted partner focused on keeping you healthy. This person knows your personal health history and schedules routine screening tests to help prevent and detect diseases such as cancer, diabetes, and heart problems.
Choosing a great doctor can be challenging. You don’t want to simply pick a name out of the phone book. Here are some ideas to ensure you get the best primary care physician:
Check your health insurance plan. Your health insurance plan might offer a listing of doctors in its network who are accepting new patients. Choosing a doctor is usually the initial step in seeking treatment under an HMO or PPO plan.
Find a doctor with expertise that you need. When you have a list of credible doctors, you can start narrowing it down. There are different types of doctor that are considered as a primary care physician – typically Family Practice, Internal Medicine or General Practice.
- Family Practice – Family practice physician caters patients of all ages, from newborns to the elderly. They are generalists who can handle a variety of conditions. They also treat ailments you’d see a specialist for, such as sports injuries and women’s health needs.
- Internal Medicine – Internal medicine physicians generally treat adults and specialize in the prevention, diagnosis and management of chronic conditions.
- General Practice – General Practice physicians can also treat patients of any gender or age. You might also find osteopaths in this category, or those who practice a type of alternative medicine with special focus on the musculoskeletal system.
Ask for referrals. Many people feel more comfortable if they come to a physician who is recommended by someone they know. So it is best to ask around and see which doctor your friends and family go to. You can likewise get recommendations from another healthcare professional you trust, such as nurses or dentists.
Visit the doctor. If you want to really get a feel of whether or not you’ve selected the right doctor then visit him or her in the clinic for a face-to-face meeting. Evaluate the environmental factors and the demeanor of the people around. See if you feel comfortable in the office and with the physician. Your PCP should be someone you trust so it is vital that you are 100% confident with him or her as you’ll be discussing your medical history and other confidential matters with him or her.
If you’re looking for a doctor in the Triangle area with credibility and track record, book an appointment with us today!
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