The Importance Of Finding A Family Doctor
Your health is your most valuable asset, and a family doctor, or primary care physician, is your first line of defense. Realistically, going to the Emergency Room is expensive, so you don’t want to do that for minor ailments. But those minor issues can become major problems down the road, and that’s why finding a great family doctor is so important.
What A Family Doctor Does For You
Unlike other doctors who specialize in a specific part of the body, such as an ENT (Ear, Nose, and Throat) doctor or a Urologist, a family doctor can treat a wide range of issues. Their most important function, though, is preventative care.
A family doctor can do the following to keep you and your loved ones healthy:
- Health screenings
- Immunizations and booster shots
- Annual health check-ups
- Chronic condition management
- Healthy lifestyle planning
- Infant and child screenings
- Gender-specific exams (pap smear, prostate exam)
These duties establish your baseline health level so that not only can you see a medical issue as it develops, but in case of a medical emergency, those treating you have more information to work from.
Think of your health as a pyramid and the family doctor as that first layer upon which everything else relies for stability.
They are also the first ones that can make a referral to a specialist in the area, so if you do need a specific treatment, you can get immediate guidance as to the best person to go to through your family doctor.
Deciding On The Right Family Doctor
Selecting a family doctor isn’t as simple as looking up a local practice and calling for an appointment. You want to make sure they can see you, they are accepting new patients, and check their background for any red flags.
Follow these steps and you will make the right decision for you and your family.
In-Network Insurance Coverage
Regrettably, consulting with your insurance carrier should be your very first step in order to avoid any out-of-network charges. Remaining in the network will reduce the costs of co-pays and treatment. Not every family doctor will accept all forms of insurance, which is why this must be the first step you take.
Recommendations
Talk to friends and family in the area to find out if anyone has seen the family doctor before, what their experience was like, if the physician had a good bedside manner, if the office staff was easy to deal with, etc.
You can even ask other medical professionals, from your dentist to your optometrist for any references.
Logistics
You don’t want to find a great family doctor, but the office is across town, or the practice is full, or they are unable to adjust appointment hours around your work schedule. Make sure to ask what services are performed in the office, including X-rays and blood tests. Also, if the doctor is out, will someone still be able to see you, or is there a nearby hospital you’ll have to go to instead.
Certification
You can check through the American Board of Family Medicine to see what certifications your potential family doctor currently holds. Being certified is going above and beyond the standard medical degree and licensing.
Certification means that they have also undergone intensive supervised training after receiving their state license and that they are, ideally, caught up on the latest medical trends and techniques.
Don’t Be Afraid To Walk Away
If you do all of your due diligence and find yourself uncomfortable inside the office, or the doctor has difficulty understanding your unique situation, it’s okay to not go back. Some times this isn’t an option, but often, you can resume your search for the perfect doctor for you, your family, and your specific needs.
Difficulty Finding A Family Doctor
If you look at the number of available family physician jobs across the United States, it’s clear that there’s not enough doctors to go around. More remote areas of the country may only have 1 or 2 family doctors available for an entire county. This may mean that even after going through all of the suggested steps, you’re stuck with what’s available.
Everyone Should See A Doctor
Finding a family doctor is worth the time and hassle. Once you’re part of the practice, as the name says, your entire family can see them as well, from newborns up to the elderly. No matter your age, frequent health checkups should be part of your regular healthcare routine.
The annoyance of having to take time out of your day for a doctor’s visit pays off down the road when you manage to avoid a trip to the Emergency Room or expensive surgeries that could have been prevented if a trained family doctor had been able to identify the problem earlier.
