What Questions Should I Ask When Choosing a New Family Doctor?
Are you moving to a new town? Have you had trouble communicating with your healthcare provider? Did you get a serious misdiagnosis? All of these examples and more are good reasons to switch to a new family doctor.
Changing doctors isn’t as easy as it sounds, though. The healthcare industry is difficult to navigate at the best of times; how are you supposed to find a doctor that is a good fit for you and your family?
There are some key facts you need to know about a doctor before you decide to see them regularly. Read on to learn some important questions to ask when choosing a new family doctor.
Do They Take Your Insurance?
Doctors aren’t the only part of the medical industry you need to consider–you also need to think of your insurance provider. Not all doctors accept all types of insurance.
If a doctor doesn’t accept your insurance, you’ll have to choose someone else, regardless of whether the doctor is a good fit otherwise.
How Much Experience Do They Have?
Choosing a doctor can literally be a life-or-death decision, so you’ll want to go with the best medical practitioner you can find. Experience can be a good indicator of quality.
The more experience a doctor has, the more knowledgeable they’re likely to be.
What Are Their Office Policies?
This is a broad question; you need to find out the office’s location, its hours of operation, and its policies regarding appointments. How far ahead of time do you need to schedule things? What if you need to cancel?
Understanding how a family physician operates and what services they provide will help you make your final decision.
When Are They Available?
Most doctors have a consistent schedule; the question is, does that schedule match up with yours? This is dependent not only on the doctor’s regular hours but also their patient load.
Even if a doctor is taking new patients, you need to know that you can get to their office at the right time to see them.
What Preventative Care Do They Recommend?
Once you’ve settled on a new family doctor, there are some other questions you should ask them early on. Preventative care recommendations are at the top of that list.
A doctor should look at your family history, among other factors, before prescribing any preventative care.
How Often Should You See Them?
To maintain a healthy family, you need to visit your new doctor regularly; however, the exact frequency of these visits depends on a variety of factors. Ask your doctor how often they want you to visit.
Ask the same question for each individual family member, too–that way, you can put together a schedule that accommodates everyone.
Find the Perfect New Family Doctor
Choosing a new family doctor can be a difficult process. Asking these questions can tell you a lot about your prospective doctors, helping you find the best family doctor for you and your loved ones.
Once you’ve chosen a new doctor, you can relax a little; check out our entertainment blog to unwind with reviews of the latest movies, music, and more!