It’s an amazing idea to have a doctor who will know your entire family health history and be there to create the best family healthcare plan for you. A family practice doctor will take care of all your healthcare needs and pay the same attention to both kids and adults.
You can contact your family doctor for common procedures, seasonal colds, sports injuries, illnesses, annual physical exams, or other more serious treatment plans. If you need a referral to a specialist, your family doctor can jump on that as well. No matter how they are referred to—internal medicine doctors or general practice doctors—family doctors are all experts in preventative care.
When it comes to the health of your family, your doctor will have everyone’s well-being in mind when answering your questions any time you don’t feel 100% healthy. If you’re ready to find a family doctor for your family or need to change your existing one due to changes in your insurance, here are a few tips that will make you choose the best family doctor:
The three Rs
When looking for your family doctor, make sure to pay attention to the three Rs: referrals, references, and research. It’s best to ask your family and friends for advice and check who they trust with their health. Maybe you can also ask your old doctor for a new referral because they know which doctor will be the best match for your family.
Word-of-mouth referrals from people you know are the most powerful tool to make the right choice. When you have a list of possible candidates, do your own research online. Consider everything from their online reviews, biographies, postings that sound too good, etc.
Call your insurance company
If you need to get a doctor through your health insurance, you might be limited to a list of doctors included in your plan. Sometimes, your insurance will let you choose a family doctor outside of the network if they can pay a little less. To find the best doctor who works within your network, call your insurance company, ask for a list of viable doctors in your area and check out their websites and social media.
When you have a few in mind, call their offices and make sure they take your plan (have your insurance card at hand because you might need to give some information to the receptionist). If you don’t have insurance, everything you pay will need to go out of your pocket, but you’ll have much more freedom when it comes to choosing your family doctor.
Check their education and credentials
It’s true that your everyday health contributes to your general well-being and wellness, so choosing a doctor with the right experience and credibility is the key to your family’s future. Make sure to check their medical history and education so you can keep up with medical advancements and innovations.
Your doctor needs to be board certified and have the right education and skill set. Board-certified doctors have completed their studies in medicine and are competent to practice it according to your country’s standards. Most doctors have these listed online on their profiles, so finding them won’t be hard as long as you’re looking. If you can’t find any information online, feel free to call and ask the secretary about a doctor’s credentials and qualifications.
Ensure a practical location and convenience
Your perfect family practice needs to be convenient for all your healthcare needs. To ensure convenience, make sure you can get the proper care quickly and receive a thorough examination. How much time do you need with your doctor? Can you book same-day appointments or schedule electronic meetings over Zoom or Skype?
These are all great benefits your family will definitely use. There are even services that connect you to family medicine clinics and allow you to conveniently located doctors that fit your lifestyle and location. You can get doctors in your desired radius through these search engines, so if you experience an emergency, you’ll be glad to have your family practice doctor close by.
Find someone who values communication
The relationship between you and your doctor is very important. Having a family doctor who is ready to communicate openly and wants to get to know you and your loved ones on a deeper level is crucial when providing healthcare. In time, your doctor will know you better than your friends which can help with setting quick and proper diagnoses, treatments, and prescriptions. And when your doctor is friendly, pleasant to talk to, and has no judgment, you can be 100% honest about your medical history, medication, lifestyle, partner, etc.
Your family doctor is here to help your family through difficult times, no matter if physically, emotionally, or mentally, so it’s important to have someone who asks questions without judgment and seeks to understand you. A medical professional who values communication also makes people more comfortable when it comes to asking questions—feel free to seek knowledge about your conditions, medication, alternative treatments, future outcomes, etc.
Trust your gut
Sometimes, the best way to choose the right doctor for your family is to listen to your first instinct. Your gut is more sensitive to catching red flags than you realize, so if you get a weird feeling during your first meeting with a new doctor, continue your search. Never ignore a strong gut reaction to a person, no matter their good reputation and all the recommendations from your family and friends.
When you first arrive, take a mental note of the staff, nurses, and assistants as well, because you will definitely need to come in contact with them during your visits—they should all be pleasant, productive, and professional. It’s important that you, your partner, and your kids feel comfortable in the environment so you can open up and be relaxed during your exams. It’s hard, to be honest with your doctor when you don’t trust them.
Finding a perfect family doctor for you and your loved ones is a task loaded with responsibility, so make sure to go over all these points before settling on a new doctor. If you make the right choice, you will soon notice all the emotional, physical and mental health benefits of having a good family doctor.
