Are You Looking For A Doctor?
Have you recently moved to a new town or city? If so, you are probably trying to get your bearings. Part of that might mean looking for the best places to shop and looking for other services. On the top of your list might be finding a new doctor for you and your family members to use. If that's the case, from finding a family physician to establishing yourself in his or her practice, here are some ideas that might help you.
Medical Care Services - As you look for a new doctor, consider what your needs are. For example, if you are still in the time of your life where you might be having a baby, of course you'll want to find a good Ob-Gyn doctor for yourself. In addition, think about getting one doctor who will treat your entire family. A family practice doctor will have the training and the experience to do everything from sports check-ups to treating you and your family members when you get the flu or any other illness.
As you look for a new doctor, consider the office staff. Are the people who work in the front office friendly and professional at the same time? What about the physician's assistant? Do you feel comfortable seeing him or her when the regular family practice doctor isn't available? It might be a good idea for you to get two or three references, go to their offices and become familiar with each doctor's staff.
Getting Yourself Established - Once you have decided on a specific doctor or doctors, it will be good for you to establish yourself and each of your family members in the doctor's list of patients. By doing so, when an illness does occur, the person who takes appointments will already be familiar with you. Don't forget to bring all your medical records from previous doctors, including shot records for your children.
If it's hard to meet the doctors in the offices you have chosen, at least try to meet the physician's assistants. You will probably have better luck by phoning ahead of time to make an appointment where you introduce yourself and where you get a good feeling for whether or not the practice you have selected will fit your family's needs. If anybody in the family has special needs, say if one of you has severe allergies, the family practice doctor can even treat those. Otherwise, contact a clinic like West Ocean City Injury & Illness Center for more help.
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