Wellness

[Q-Checker]

I think that medical competency is more important than other factors. In looking for new health care providers, a referral from a trusted  medical source and/or a thorough Google review are important. Look at the qualifications and training of the doctor very carefully. Board certification and FACP credentials are some of the indications of medical skill, along  with education and training in respected institutions. Pay less attention to Yelp reviews unless there is a striking statement. Remember that Yelp reviews are not subject to verification and that they are just opinions from people without medical training. It is nice if you "like" a doctor but important to realize that it is the professional  relationship and confidence in the doctor's  competency that is most critical -- not the conversational compatibility.

[Franklinbell]

If you have any specialist that you see you might ask them. Sometimes the know of great pcps in your area! Good luck!

[deepwaterdotter]

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@quilter61 wrote:

When my doctor decided to retire, he made sure that all his patients had new doctors.  In fact the doctor he referred me to called right away to set up an appointment.  I am surprised that your doctor did not do this for you.

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This was my experience also.

[mac116]

When I needed a new doctor, I specifically searched for an internist.

[ID2]

When my doctor retired he gave me a list of other doctors he recommended.

[ChillyTulip]

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@songbird wrote:

My doctor moved away, but he left a recommendation, so I went there.  I like the new one.  He's not  GP, just an internist (the new GP) but he's pretty good.  

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LOL. Internists are not a new thing. 

A med student may enter a residency for "Family Medicine" or "Internal Medicine."

FM docs receive a little training in everything.

Internists care only for adults (some will see older teens).

I choose an internist for myself. Their training, imo, is superior. 

[ScrapHappy]

I search on line, Google "best PCP near me."  Or if looking for specialist, like a dermatologist, I google that.  I also have the Nextdoor App and there are always physician recommendations on there.  I still research them and read their reviews.  Then I pick a couple, check if they're accepting new patients and call my insurance company to make sure they;re in network.  I prefer trying to stay as close to home as possible.  I definitely don't like heading into the city.  But I went to a GI guy for my doctor after a referral from her physician and he was terrible, the entire staff was.  Found a great GI doctor after that I had to drive far to get to him but it was worth it.

[shoptilyadropagain]

My former doctor's satellite office was shut down by the main office and he moved too far away for me to follow him.  I was able to get an appointment before he left and he gave me two recommendations.  One was not accepting new patients and I filled out paperwork for the other one to see if he would accept me as a new patient but I never heard back from that office.

I had been seeing an ad pop up on Facebook for a practice and one of the doctors really appealed to me with a warm smile.  I can't really explain why.  After a few months, I decided to get serious and was looking at preferred providers on my insurance web site.  Well, there was that doctor with the warm smile I had seen on FB.  I went to the web site and filled out an application online and I was accepted as a new patient.  I've gone to her for over a year now and like her even more than I thought I would.  Since then, I've found other friends who go to that same practice and even my same doctor and they absolutely love her.  

[JeanLouiseFinch]

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[Fifi1]

The medical field has gone insane! I called my dr office yesterday to schedule an appt for a couple issues, and can get into my dr March 5! I do not want too go to urgent care!

i like my dr, but this is getting ridiculous to be seen! I called the gastro office as well and could get in in one month! I dislike the call centers, it took me 20 minutes to schedule the appt with all the questions and putting me on hold, to verify It wasn't an emergency!