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Things to Look for in a New Primary Care Doctor

Due to the aging population and various technological advances, the healthcare industry is one that investors should closely monitor. With all the advancements, it is amazing what the medical field is producing and it might be time to learn more about healthcare etf.  Most importantly, doctors have special skills that are helping their patients with many problems and getting them back out to live their lives with health and comfort. 

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While you are doing your research on the financial end, looking for a good doctor is of utmost importance. When it comes to who knows you and your body the best, one of the top people on the list should be your primary care doctor. If your doctor that you go to right now does not make you feel comfortable or take the time to listen to and really get to know you, then you are really missing out on a very important healthcare relationship. This means that it may be time to start looking for a new primary care doctor for you and your family so that you feel as though you are being heard and that your doctor is taking care of all your physical and mental needs when you go in.

Finding the right doctor is one of the most important relationships you can have for your physical and mental well-being and your overall general health. Below are a few things to look for when you start the process of looking for a new primary care doctor.

Ask friends and family for recommendations

Going straight to Google and searching for a new doctor can be very overwhelming as there are probably dozens of options right there in your local area alone. In order to get a real feel for a great family healthcare doctor, ask the people that you trust first. Talk to your close friends and your family members and ask them where they go and if they are satisfied. You will probably get a great list of doctors from this technique alone, but it is important to remember that not everyone looks for the same things that you do. The perfect doctor for your friends may not be the perfect doctor for you, and that is okay.

Find someone who is close to you

Your new primary care doctor is going to be the person you go to see for regularly scheduled health visits and the person you have to go too when you are feeling not so great. For this reason, you want to go to someone who is near to you and easy to access so you do not have to drive too far when you are feeling under the weather. A conveniently located doctor also means that you will be more likely to keep your wellness appointments so you stay healthy as you should.

After getting recommendations, do your own research

This is an important step that a lot of people miss. Many people get a great recommendation and go into a new office totally blind. This should not be something you do. After you get your list of possible new doctors for your family to go see, it is important to do your own research on each person. Make sure that the doctor is board-certified, go through your insurance and ask them to do a quality check for you, and use Medicare.gov to your advantage by looking up a certain doctor to see how high they are rated for quality.

Ask a doctor about their care philosophy

During your very first doctor visit, it is important to make sure that you ask your doctor about his or her philosophy when it comes to treating their patients. For example, you may be a person that likes to get medicine for everything so you can get better as fast as possible and be back to normal in no time, while the doctor you are visiting prefers a more natural and holistic approach to treating patients or vice versa. This could mean that you will clash on what you believe the best type of treatment for your body is and you may be better off with a different doctor who aligns him or herself more with your beliefs. This is important information to consider when deciding to stick with a new doctor or to continue on your search.

Ultimately, it comes down to listening to and trusting your gut. Your instincts will tell you right off the bat if this new doctor is really listening to you and taking into account all of your family’s needs and concerns or if he is trying to rush you out of the door. It is critical that you feel a bond of trust so that you can feel comfortable asking questions and speaking up when you think something is wrong.