5 Things to Consider when Choosing a Primary Care Physician

by Alicia Bodine, Contributing Writer

Image © llmicrofono Oggiono; Flickr.com

Choosing a Doctor can be a difficult decision. You must take in to consideration you want a doctor that you can count on for many years to come. Here are 5 things you can consider when deciding which physician is right for you:

1. Insurance/Price: Does the physician take your insurance? If not, what are his or her rates? Are the rates high or low compared to other doctors in the area? If they are too high, that might be an indication that the doctor cares more about money than he does about his patients. You really want to find someone who charges the going rate or less. You will also want to ask how much the doctor charges for certain tests and extras. It is better to be prepared than to sign on with a doctor (having no insurance that is) and then find yourself in a big debt.

​2. Hours of operation: What are the doctor's office hours? Will there be someone to take your calls if the doctor is not available on weekends? Does the doctor have hours for patients in his care who are in the hospital? This is important because if you end up needing to stay at the hospital you will get whatever doctor is on call.

3. Years of Experience: How long has the doctor been in practice? Where did he attend college? Where did he complete his apprenticeship? If your doctor is brand new, just out of college he hasn't had much life experience yet. I would not advise taking this kind of physician on. You should wait until a physician has had a decent amount of years working under or with a veteran doctor.

4. Referrals: Do you know anyone in town who goes to this Doctor? What is their recommendation? Make sure you talk to at least 10 individuals to get an overall feel. Also find out how long the individual has been a patient so you can gauge whether they have had a chance to get to know the doctor or not.

5. The Doctors Demeanor: Does the doctor explain things in a way you can understand? Does the doctor talk down to you or like you are equals? Does the doctor seem happy to see you or are you just another number? Think about what kind of person you enjoy interacting with. Does this doctor have those qualities?

​Making the decision to choose a primary care physician should not be taken likely. In an ideal situation you want to have a good relationship with your doctor. If something were to go wrong you want to know ahead of time that this doctor will be able to handle it, make the proper diagnosis, refer you to the right specialists, and do it in a kind manner. Use the above questions to guide yourself in choosing the right doctor for you.

This article previously appeared on the Yahoo Contributor Network