October 26th, 2009
When it comes to choosing a family physician, there is much to consider. Here are some hints to make your search easier.
1. Ask for referrals.
Talk to friends, neighbors, and family members and ask if they are pleased with their current family physician. Find out what they like about that particular physician and why they continue to see him or her. If you are brand-new to the area, you might check in with the school your children will attend — ask which pediatrician’s names seem to come up most frequently on school medical forms (some schools will not divulge this information even though it doesn’t breach any student confidentiality).
2. Consider your options.
You have many choices when it comes to health care. For starters, you might want to decide whether you choose to see a family physician (one doctor who can treat the whole family), or whether you prefer to use a separate internist (a general physician who treats adult patients) and a pediatrician (physician who only treats children and adolescents). Family physicians offer convenience, with just 1 location and physician to visit no matter which family member is being seen. However, family practice physicians do not possess the specialized training and experience in treating children (as compared to pediatricians).
3. Consider the cost.
Depending on whether you are insured or self-insured, and whether you have an HMO, PPO or HSA, this can impact your total cost and your choices for which physicians are in the network.
4. Conduct interviews.
Ask a lot of questions — especially if any of your family members have special medical needs.
5. Trust your intuition.
If you feel a particular affinity toward (or repulsion from) any of the physicians you interview, don’t take that indicator lightly. If your children don’t feel comfortable with a physician during the interview, it is unlikely that they will grow to like that doctor. First impressions can be very telling.
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