Tips on finding a family physician

Be sure that whoever you select will have the professional experience and a bedside manner that will make you feel comfortable and secure when you need medical attention.

Here is an overview of some things to consider:

What type of doctor do you need?

Having back pain? Foot pain? You wouldn’t want to see an ObGyn. Figure out what type of doctor you’re looking for before you start your search. Profiles of physicians on Kudzu.com are broken down by category, sub category and physician specialties.

Quality and Credential Check

According to the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality you should look for a doctor who:

• Is rated to give quality care.



• Has the training and background that meet your needs.



• Takes steps to prevent illness-for example, talks to you about quitting smoking.



• Has privileges at the hospital of your choice.



• Is part of your health plan, unless you can you afford to pay extra.



• Encourages you to ask questions.



• Listens to you.



• Explains things clearly.



• Treats you with respect.

Don’t be afraid to ask your potential doctor lots of questions.

When you use Kudzu.com, make use of the additional information listed about the doctor. You can easily find information in the listings about where the doctor received his or her medical degree, did their residency and check their accreditation. Each subspecialty of doctor should also have an affiliation or association, such as the American Academy of Dermatology, Asthma and Allergy Foundation of America, the American Board of Pediatrics, and the American Board of Internal Medicine.

Insurance

If you already are in a health plan, your choices may be limited to participating doctors. Consult your insurance company if you are unsure about a particular doctor.

If you have a choice of plans, you may want to first think about which doctor(s) you would like to use and then confirm that the doctor is available for an appointment. Note that some doctors only accept a limited amount of patients from insure carriers such as Medicaid. Your best course of action is to call and double check.

Hospitals and Affiliations

You may want to consider choosing a doctor based on which hospital, clinic or medical group he or she is affiliated with. For instance, if you are pregnant and seeking a doctor, you should make sure that the physician has ties to the hospital where you most likely plan to deliver. Having a connection to a particular hospital also ensures that your doctor will most likely be on call should you have a chronic problem and need to visit that hospital in an emergency.

You’ll also want to consider office hours. Does the doctor make early morning or weekend appointments to accommodate your schedule?

Source: Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality