How to Choose the Best Primary Care Doctor

Last Updated on January 7, 2021

Don’t just pick a name off your insurance’s list! Your primary care physician is probably your most important health care professional since choosing one is a basic step toward managing your healthcare.

Your primary care doctor is actually your medical ‘home.’ It’s the one you turn to for most medical needs, including routine screenings, wellness visits, and even non-emergency illnesses such as sore throats and earaches. Your doctor is also the person you speak to about your health concerns and questions.

Your relationship with the primary care doctor can last for decades or only for a few months for many reasons, like moving or changing insurance. But regardless of how long you plan to see your primary care physician, the relationship is very important.

You’ll want to find someone with expertise in the areas that meet your health needs and whom you feel comfortable having honest conversations with.

How to Choose the Best Primary Care Doctor

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Here are 10 insider tips to help you choose
the best primary care physician

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#1 – Consider LOCATION

Location is more important than you may think. It may seem totally fine to travel about 45 minutes to visit a doctor you can trust, but it won’t be the case for when you’re extremely sick and can barely gather some energy to get out of bed.

Location matters due to convenience, and you don’t want to underestimate convenience. When you need a doctor, you don’t want to travel far, particularly if you have to schedule a visit many times a year.

According to a study from the University Of Michigan Medical School, patients experienced a greater disease burden as their distance increased from their primary care doctor.

#2 – Check the Type of Doctor

You probably don’t know the difference between internal medicine and family medicine. In fact, the differences in training adopt unique skill sets between both specialties which patients can consider when selecting a primary care physician.

Family medicine providers care for patients of every age, from birth to death, including geriatric, adult, pediatric, gynecologic, obstetric, and prenatal care. On the other hand, internal medicine practitioners offer care only for adults aged 18 and older and might refer out to a specialist for women’s healthcare needs.