Tips For Choosing A Primary Care Physician

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The American Association of Medical Colleges has predicted that the country will likely experience a shortage of primary care physicians in 2033. The number of shortages is forecasted to be between 54,100 and 139,000. This means that there is a huge demand for primary care physicians, and until you take proactive steps to choose one for your family, you may be at a loss. The crucial question, though, is how to choose one to care for your family’s wellbeing. What considerations should be factored into your selection process? For more details, see what new things you can pick from here.

1. Check with your health insurance provider

Most people use a common strategy to find primary care physicians within their living areas or immediate community. However, it is better to choose a primary care physician registered as an in-network doctor to cut costs. This means your health insurance plan should cover this medical professional. At this stage, you have to find out from your health insurance provider if your plan has coverage for an in-network doctor. Without a doubt, you have the liberty to choose an out-of-network doctor, but that will be expensive and almost financially wasteful.

In some instances, your insurance provider will already have a list of primary care physicians to choose from. This is particularly characteristic of Health Maintenance Organization (HMO) plans. Additionally, depending on your package, selecting a primary care physician under a Preferred Provider Organization (PPO) plan will be less expensive.

2. Recommendations from family and friends

Sometimes, recommendations received from trusted friends and family can influence choosing a primary care physician. Referrals like that cut back the hesitancy of trying out a primary care physician for the first time. However, in going with their references, do not forget to conduct your verifications.

There have been situations where highly recommended family physicians had a client seeking out an attorney for medical malpractice. Medscape statistics indicate that nearly half (49%) of all primary care physicians have had medical negligence and malpractice lawsuits leveled against them. This means one out of three PCPs were implicated in a malpractice suit but likely never went to trial.

3. Be specific on the type of primary care you need

Primary Care Providers or PCPs have specializations in respective medical areas. There are family practitioners, internists, gynecologists, geriatrics, and pediatricians. Therefore, if you are a family with young children, your best option might be going in for a pediatrician. To play it safer and avoid extra costs, the ideal pick will be a family physician who attends to all family members regardless of age.

Ideally, the PCP you finally settle on will be the medical professional attending to you and your family. Therefore, it makes sense that you establish a relationship with this professional. The reason being, the more the physician knows about the family’s medical history, the better care you stand to benefit.

Choosing a primary care physician is essential in ensuring good health and wellness. Hopefully, you’ll leverage these tips for the best results.