6 Characteristics of Your Ideal Primary Care Physician

Health & Medical Blog

Have you been searching high and low for a primary care physician that will be best suited for your health care needs? Perhaps you feel like you may have found the right doctor, but you haven't quite ended your search yet. How can you be certain your new primary care physician is a good fit for you? Having the necessary qualifications is just the start, as there is much more to the making of a good doctor. Here are 6 attributes or characteristics you should look for in your new doctor.

1. The Doctor Takes the Time to Listen to Your Concerns

You should never feel rushed during a doctor visit. Communication is the building block of a good relationship between patient and physician. Does your doctor take the time to listen to your concerns and your options pertaining to your health? Do you feel as though your doctor truly cares about your well being?

A caring doctor who will meet your needs will not only address your concerns and personal feelings, but he or she will never dismiss your worries as being unfounded or insignificant and will never seem condescending. A doctor who respects your feelings is something you should never compromise on.

2. You Feel Comfortable Talking to Him or Her About Any Health-Related Issue

Have you ever felt uncomfortable talking to your doctor about a particular health issue you have been experiencing? That uneasiness may hinder or get in the way of resolving your health issues. It is vitally important to feel comfortable enough to speak with the doctor about anything that affects your well being. A good doctor will put you at ease and make you feel like you can discuss any matter that affects your health, physically or emotionally. That is what he or she is there for.

3. You Both See Eye to Eye on Important Issues

Yes, your primary care physician and yourself should mesh. You need to form a partnership of sorts, and this means having the same views on health care, primarily your heath care. Does your doctor share the same thoughts on treatments and medications? Do you both have a similar philosophy on health care? If so, you're on the right path.

4. The Doctor Is Accessible When You Need Him or Her

Have you have ever experienced the frustration of not being able to contact your doctor with an important question some time after your office visit? A good doctor will be available for questions after an appointment or will appoint someone (via the phone) who can assist you. The right doctor for you will return your phone call personally if the question warrants a personal response.

5. He or She Is Open and Honest When It Comes to Your Prescribed Treatment Plan

No patient should feel like they are in the dark about why they have been prescribed a particular medication or treatment plan. A good doctor will openly discuss why he or she feels the recommended treatment plan will be right for you. You deserve to know why your doctor has ordered that computer tomography (CT) scan or is referring you to a specialist. The right doctor for you will openly and honestly discuss these particulars with you to your complete satisfaction. He or she will not sugar coat the reasons or skirt the issues. When it comes to your health, honesty is something you should seek in your health care.

6. The Physician Has Hired a Professional and Courteous Staff

A caring and professional team is a direct reflection of your doctor. Your ideal physician should staff highly professional receptionists and office personnel. You should feel as comfortable with the office personnel as you do with the doctor.

If your new primary care physician meets the above criteria, congratulations. You seem to have found the ideal health care provider for a satisfying experience. Contact a clinic like Rural Health Services Consortium Inc. if you need a new primary care physician.

5 September 2017