| Remember your friendly neighborhood "GP" (for general practitioner) back in India who used to treat you for most illnesses?
The family physician is the US equivalent of a GP.
But many US insurance providers give you the option of choosing a specialist right away without consulting a family physician.
So why do you need a family physician?
A family physician can:
- Keep a detailed record of all your family health issues
- Diagnose and treat the entire range of your health problems
- Help you make major health decisions
- Provide health education and
- Even share an emotional bond with you and your family
You will enjoy all these benefits provided you choose the right physician. How do you do that?
Your best bet is to ask your friends and relatives from the same area for recommendations.
Remember that every individual has different preferences. So what is right for someone might not be right for you.
But other people's experiences can help you gather information and eventually make a decision.
If you are moving, you could ask your family physician to refer you to another physician in your new city.
The most important thing to check before you make an appointment is whether the physician you have chosen
is covered under your insurance. Most insurance providers will give you a huge list of physicians in their network.
You can visit any one from their list.
A few questions to ask about your family physician before you decide on one:
(Some of the information is available online and some of it can be obtained from the doctor's office)
Is the physician licensed?
Just like in India, you need a license to practice medicine in the US. And just like here,
there are good medical schools and bad ones. It might be good to know which medical school your physician went to.
Is he/she board certified?
Most doctors are board certified in a particular area. This means that they have completed
specialty training and passed formal examinations. While board certification does not guarantee a great doctor,
you can be sure that your doctor has undergone a degree of training if he/she is certified.
How does your family physician's office operate?
Make sure you look at the office hours and locations, payment requirements, emergency and after- hours coverage,
and access to telephone consultations and house calls. Also, ask for a list of hospitals the physician has admitting privileges.
Has your physician ever been sued for malpractice?
You can obtain information about your doctor's malpractice record from the County Clerk's office.
Remember that malpractice suits are not uncommon and might not be a good measure of the doctor's abilities.
But if a doctor has a very poor record, you might want to keep away from him.
Unfortunately, unlike in India, you cannot just "drop into" the doctor's office and expect him/her to see you.
Some doctors let you do this if you are really sick and if they have a free slot available.
Helpful tip:
Early bird gets the doctor. Family physicians are usually extremely busy and some of them have periods where
they do not accept new patients. Make sure you don't wait for one of you to get sick before you schedule the first appointment
with your family physician. This ensures that you get to know the doctor well and feel confident enough to visit him/her
when illness strikes.
Now that you have chosen a doctor, how do you check if he/she is right for you? In a couple of visits, you will be able to gauge this.
Ask yourself the following questions:
- Are you comfortable talking to your doctor?
If he/she intimidates you, that is a red flag. You should be able to communicate with your doctor just as you would with your colleagues/friends.
- Does he/she answer all your questions completely?
Some doctors do not welcome questions from you and some might answer them condescendingly or vaguely. Do not accept any answer or philosophy that does not convince you.
- Does the doctor explain to you, your illness and the course of treatment?
Remember that you are paying for your health care and you have every right to know the details of your illness and treatment. Feel free to ask as many questions as you want.
Everyone is not expected to know what an "Endoscopic Retrograde Cholangio-Pancreatography" is.
- Does the doctor give you sufficient time?
Some doctors give their patients a cursory glance and send the assistant to deal with the rest. If you do not like this practice, it is time to change doctors.
- How is the doctor's bedside manner?
This is of course a matter of individual perception. In India, doctors generally do not ask for your consent before they look into your ear or for that matter,
stick a tongue depressor into your throat. But in the US, taking the patient's consent for the smallest of interventions is mandatory.
Your doctor's bedside manner might not be a good measure of his medical knowledge, but a friendly doctor certainly makes you feel better, when you are sick.
- Does he/she ask about the rest of the family?
This shows the concern of the doctor towards your family. A family physician must not only deal with the current problem, but also pave the way for future good health.
- Does the family physician give you a lot of health advice?
This is one of the major duties of family physicians. Since they know your family well, they should be able to provide personalized health tips.
- How is the staff?
If the staff is well mannered, chatty and helpful, your experience at the clinic can be enhanced.
* Hope these tips help you choose the right primary care physician for your family.
Various studies have shown that well-read and educated consumers who take an active part in their treatment stay healthier and recover faster from disease.
Take charge of your health and begin by visiting your family physician. |
