Finding a general physician is much easier when you know what to look for. To simplify things, here’s a handy checklist of questions to help you:
Is the staff friendly?
When you set up the appointment over the phone or when you finally went there for a consult, was the staff polite and helpful? Did you get the information you need? Do they have the proper training?
Do the operating hours work for you?
Are the operating hours convenient for you? Is it easy to make appointments because they cover the hours you aren’t at work?
How long is the travel time?
Do you have to drive or commute for more than an hour just to get to the clinic, health care unit or hospital? Then that might not be the best option for you. The ideal travel time should be about an hour or less.
What are the treatments like?
Different doctors have different care and treatment plans. Are the care plans preventive or solely focused on treating your symptoms? Does the doctor try hard to determine the root causes of the disease in the first place and strive to help you address them? If your doctor cares about treating and preventing those illnesses, then you’ve got a good one on your side.
What do people say?
Go online and read up on reviews about your doctor. Ask around as well. You could easily figure out what kind of reputation a physician has. This is helpful when you’re trying to decide whether to give that doctor a go or if you need to hire someone else.
Do referrals count?
In a word: yes. Word-of-mouth recommendations can save you a lot of time and effort. So don’t waste them, says Medline Plus.
Get the medical help you need to stay healthy. Use this checklist to find the best general physician for you.
