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Tips for choosing a primary care physician
Jan. 9,
2013 |
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PALMER – Finding the right primary care provider for your family is an important decision.
You should feel comfortable discussing your health issues and concerns, as well as those of your children and significant other with your family physician and trust that he or she is your biggest health advocate. For some people, location of the office is an important factor, while others specifically want a doctor that is either male or female. Whatever your personal preferences, the following tips can help you find a doctor that is right for you and your family.
Make a list of your "must haves." Do you want a doctor whose office is close to your home? Would you prefer a female doctor? Think about the characteristics most important to you and don't make compromises about them while making your decision.
Do your research. Ask your health insurance provider for a list of primary care physicians that are part of your plan. There are also many tools available to help you locate physicians in your area. Wing Memorial Hospital and Medical Center offers a 'Find a Physician' (www.winghealth.org) tool and a Physician Referral phone line at 284-5365 to help in your search for the right doctor.
Once you have a list of a few doctors who fit your preferences, ask friends and loved ones if they are familiar with any of the doctors on your list, and if they would make any recommendations.
Set up an appointment. When you are getting close to a decision, make a new patient appointment with the doctor to ensure you are comfortable with him or her. Be sure to ask questions during the appointment about how to reach him or her during an emergency, how appointments are handled when the doctor is away and whatever else you feel you need to know to give you all the information are looking for about this doctor.
Evaluate your visit. After your appointment, evaluate whether or not the doctor and the practice are a good fit for your family. Ask yourself – were you treated nicely? Did you feel comfortable talking to the doctor? Were your questions answered to your satisfaction?
The steps above are a helpful guide in choosing a great family doctor. It's important that you and your family receive high-quality care in a friendly and safe environment.
Wing Memorial Hospital provides area residents with primary care services in five locations in Belchertown, Ludlow, Monson, Palmer and Wilbraham, where its physicians provide a full range of preventive, diagnostic and treatment services for patients of all ages. Wing Memorial's primary care physicians specialize in the following areas:
• Family medicine: Physicians care for patients of all ages, from newborns to the elderly. Some family medicine physicians provide maternity care.
• Internal medicine: Physicians specialize in adult primary care, specifically the diagnosis and nonsurgical treatment of diseases.
• Geriatric medicine: Physicians focus on the care and special needs of elderly patients.
• Pediatric medicine: Physicians provide infants, children and adolescents with a broad spectrum of health care.
• In addition, as part of UMass Memorial Health Care, patients at Wing Memorial have access to some of the top specialists in the state. Visit Wing's website at www.winghealth.org or call 284-5365 for more information.
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