Choosing a primary care physician is one of the most important decisions you will make for your health. If you don’t have a primary doctor or are not at ease with the one you currently see, it’s time to find a new doctor. Whether you just moved to a new city, had a bad experience with your doctor or medical staff, it is worthwhile to spend time finding a primary doctor you can trust.
Finding the Right Primary Doctor
Read on to know how to find the right primary doctor who can give you the medical attention you need, when you need it. As face time with patients shrinks, it puts physician–patient relationships at risk. The 2016 Survey of America’s Physicians, conducted by Merritt Hawkins for The Physician’s Foundation, found physicians consider patient relationships the most satisfying aspect of their practices. patients are more likely to follow their doctor’s instructions if they feel they can trust their physician and that he or she has taken the time to listen, understand and show that he or she cares
Availability
The average primary doctor spends around 17 minutes with a patient. This is simply not enough time. A physician should remain with you until all your questions are answered, whether clinical or administrative. When patients get more time with doctors, they tend to be more satisfied with their care and experience reduced rates of medication prescriptions. Additionally, longer consultations are associated with better health outcomes. Having a primary doctor on call is important especially if you have a medical condition that may require immediate professional attention at any time of the day. For these reasons, the concierge doctors at Dedication Health are available 24/7 for their patients. Additionally, our members can book same-day appointments for primary and urgent care. Due to our reserved patient count, your primary doctor can spend an unrestricted amount of time addressing your medical needs.
Personal Preference
A primary care physician will be the person who knows the most about your medical and health information. He or she should someone you can confide in and can feel comfortable with. This is why having a trusting patient-doctor relationship is so important. Think about whether you prefer a male or female doctor. The quality of the doctor’s bedside manner and ability to deal with patients is an important consideration since you want your relationship with your doctor to be built on confidence, trust, and respect. Is the doctor warm and accommodating, or coldly professional? Do you feel listened to and heard when you are talking to him or her? All these could affect the overall relationship and the quality of service you’ll be getting.
Experience and Expertise
While primary care physicians specialize in general medicine, it’s not uncommon to find doctors that have more experience in a specific field. If you are looking for a primary doctor it can help if your choice has ample experience and expertise dealing with your specific condition. For example, if you are suffering from a chronic musculoskeletal disorder you can start looking for a general practitioner with training or experience in Rheumatology, Geriatrics, and even Pulmonary Medicine. If you have Diabetes you can look for a primary doctor with significant experience or expertise in Endocrinology. At Dedication Health, all of our concierge physicians are board-certified in Internal Medicine. In addition, they are board-certified or specialize in different specialties including Cardiology, Rheumatology, Travel Medicine, Geriatrics, Pulmonary Medicine, and Endocrinology.
Access to Primary Doctor
Location is important if you want a primary doctor you can easily get to when you need emergency medical help. This means that the physician must be based somewhere that is convenient for you to visit and vice versa. Your physician could also offer remote consultations that allow you to get off-site consultations for minor conditions and eliminate the need to get out of the house. This can be a big thing for patients with mobility issues and should be a factor that you should look for if mobility is a problem for you. Other factors like online bookings, flexible working hours, and quality of communication are important considerations when looking at how accessible the doctor is to his or her patients. Benefits such as these are expected in a concierge medicine practice.
Reviews and recommendations
Ask for recommendations from doctors or medical groups. Your specialist can recommend a primary care physician who practices in a location accessible to you. You can also talk to a family member, friends, and colleagues for their recommendations. Positive reviews from real people are powerful indicators that a primary doctor does their job well and meets patient expectations. You can find Dedication Health reviews from our members on Google, Healthgrades, and other review sites.
Professional credentials
Reviews and feedback should be supported by the right professional credentials. Your primary doctor must be licensed to practice in the State, for starters. If the doctor claims to have experience or expertise in other fields of medicine or auxiliary forms of treatment, he or she must be able to show certificates or a professional work record that support these claims.
First impressions
What’s your first impression upon meeting the primacy doctor for the first time? Did you feel at ease? Were your questions answered with clarity? The first impression can be a big help in determining if you can form a trusting and long-term physician. So don’t discount face-to-face meetups when choosing among primary care providers.
Primary Doctor Near Me: Join Dedication Health
Choosing a primary care doctor to be your first point of care can make a great difference in making sure you get competent and timely medical help when you need it. Take the time to look at experience and expertise, consider factors like accessibility and reviews, as well as the quality of your first interaction with your doctor. All these can help you choose the best primary doctor who can give you the medical care you’re looking for. Call 847-750-3007 or complete our contact form to get in touch with a concierge primary doctor in Chicago. Dedication Health is located at 710 Oak St, Winnetka, IL 60093.
To learn more about concierge primary care, browse the recommended links below.
3 Reasons Primary Care Physicians Switch to Concierge Medicine
Primary Care Physician Near Me: Top Rated Primary Care Physicians in Chicago