A family medicine practitioner is the first point of contact for you and your family's healthcare concerns. They offer comprehensive medical care services to every family member, from children to adults and seniors, ensuring your overall health and well-being. Family medicine doctors don't just stop at treating illnesses but also emphasize the importance of preventive care to minimize your potential risk for health conditions. Their role extends beyond the examination room as they build long-lasting relationships with patients, gaining a deep understanding of their medical history and personal circumstances.
This blog will discuss the circumstances you may need to visit a primary care physician and how to find the best one in the field.
According to the CDC, 83.4% adults and 93.9% children have visited family physicians in 2022. This emphasizes the importance of visiting a family practice doctor. Family physicians play a crucial role in managing and improving your overall health and wellness. They have more expertise and knowledge to treat various medical concerns for all age groups.
Here are the reasons you should consult a family medicine doctor:
Moreover, family practice physicians also treat other medical conditions, including, but not limited to:
Here are several key factors to consider when you look for the right family practice doctor:
If you have health insurance, choosing the doctor in your network helps cut down your healthcare costs. So, you can look for the primary care physicians covered by your insurance plan. You can also choose an out-of-network physician, but you might pay a higher cost. If you don't have health insurance, you can check out the cost of services of the family medical clinic you want to choose and decide accordingly.
Consider whether the doctor or clinic you are interested in is conveniently located and easy to reach from your place. Traveling far takes both your time and money and makes it difficult to access healthcare for emergencies.
You ask your friends, family, and colleagues for doctors' recommendations. Besides, other healthcare workers, including physical therapists, pharmacists, dentists, and optometrists, can also provide suggestions on the best doctors in and around your location.
Check whether procedures like x-rays, lab tests, and minor surgeries are performed in-office or if you need to travel to an imaging center, lab, or other place allocated for surgeries. If you must travel to different places, ensure those facilities are within reach with your easy-to-access limits.
You must check out the clinic's business hours, waiting time, and whether the doctor can be reached on weekends or on call. Furthermore, ask whether the clinic has an online portal to book appointments and offers telemedicine services for timely assistance, prescription refills, etc.
Ensure your prospective family doctor has board certifications and specializes in addressing your unique medical needs. If you have insurance, your insurer can give you a rating or ranking of the doctor you are interested in. This way, you can decide whether or not they align with your needs.
The clinic's medical staff will be liable for various aspects of your visit, from booking appointments to rescheduling them, asking for refills, resolving billing issues, etc. So, ensure the staff are friendly and compassionate to interact and clarify doubts regarding billing and follow-up visits.
One physician leads some clinics, while others are run by a group of doctors or a doctor and nurse practitioners. So, you must ensure that you can meet the same provider every time or different providers or nurse assistants will see you. While it may not impact the quality of care you receive, you may have different experiences if you visit other providers every time.
Ensure that the doctor can speak your language or look for someone who can do it so that you can communicate with them easily. Also, check how personable the doctor is, like whether he takes time to listen to your concerns or feels rushed, or ignores your queries, whether they explain everything in a way you can better comprehend, and how comfortable you are when talking about sensitive issues.
Visit the clinic in person and see how clean its environment is, including waiting rooms, treatment rooms, lobby, walkways, surgery rooms, etc. A well-clean practice can make your waiting time comfortable and pleasant while ensuring your health and safety.
As an advanced family medicine in Duluth and surrounding areas, Modern Family Medicine is committed to providing comprehensive and personalized primary care services for every member of your family. Our board-certified physician, Dr. Priya Arcot-Joshi, DO, MS, is dedicated to staying current with medical breakthroughs, ensuring that you receive the best possible care. We emphasize preventive care, early disease detection, and tailored treatment plans to optimize your family's health and well-being. Moreover, our clinic has state-of-the-art facilities for efficient and accurate diagnosis and treatment. Contact us today if you want the best Duluth family medicine practice.
Source: cdc.gov
