Getting that first appointment with your doctor is no small feat, let alone finding your way back if you have to switch or just find a new one because your original isn’t available. You could be left with a handful of questions. Even when you’ve got a friend or family member to review the information with, too many choices can still be overwhelming, especially if you can’t tell what separates plausible options from others. 

Here are some tips to help you find the primary care doctor that’s right for you.

Remember These Considerations

Don’t just type “doctor near me” on your preferred search engine. Always keep these factors in mind:

• Accepted insurance providers
• Acceptance rate of new patients
• Character
• Expertise
• Patient reviews
• Work hours

Refer to This Checklist

It’s a no-brainer to focus on the basics when evaluating your next primary care doctor, like their medical school, insurance plans, and proximity to your home. However, there are other things that you can take into account. Do you click with them? Does their personality mesh with yours? 

It’s essential to determine if you connect with your doctor to improve your health outcomes significantly. Don’t worry if you’re not sure how to answer these questions. The following checklist can help get you started.

• Make Your Search Even More Specific: When looking for a new primary care doctor, most people start with a word-of-mouth recommendation from a friend or family member or type primary care “doctor near me” on their preferred search engine. This leads to a handful of doctors to look into, which is a good start, but it doesn’t consider any specific traits or qualifications you’re looking for.Aside from doing virtual and physical queries, make your search even more specific. Look for experts within your state, city, and county. Narrow it down to your locale. It’s cheaper logistics-wise to consult a primary care doctor in your area than one in another area code!Type “doctor (name of state, city, or county)” on search engines” instead. That should yield more relevant results. When asking for in-person referrals, state you want the options nearest to you. You can avoid wasting time and effort that way.
• Compare Narrowed Results: Once you find the specific traits and qualifications you’re looking for from several options, it’s time to make your comparisons.One of the most important things to consider when deciding the site to get your medical information from is the information’s legitimacy. Gathering medical information from third-party sites can be problematic because some websites have inaccurate information.An instance of this is pages that say the primary care doctor is practicing in places they have never been, lists the terrible experience, and insufficient education level.Do your digging to discover that a professional’s website, for example, is the most accurate of them all. It lists all their achievements, training, honors, and—most importantly—state license or approval, not just those that the other sites want to share. Thus, you can be confident with that site as a source for better decisions.

• Check with Experts: If you’ve gone through all the steps and are still unsure of yourself in your selection, picking up the phone and talking to an expert can be an excellent way to receive some assurance that you’ve made the right choice.Referral centers can provide you with additional information not easily found online and answer any questions you might have concerning your appointment, the practice itself, and even the best way to get there.

Find the Right Primary Care Doctor for Your Loved One

Primary care doctors, including those who practice family medicine or internal medicine, are key to your overall health. They see the big picture, including maintaining your healthy lifestyle, helping you reach new health goals, and managing some chronic conditions. 

In a sense, they are in charge of your health. To this end, they usually put the patient first and try to provide the best care possible. In addition, they don’t have to wait until something is wrong before they intervene; instead, most people go to them when they are well. If anything goes wrong, the clinic already knows about them and can assist them immediately.

Find a new primary care doctor right away by contacting Aspen Medical Center! We are a locally owned outpatient medical facility in Santa Fe and Espanola, NM, offering state-of-the-art primary care and urgent care services. Check-in online through our website or book your appointment by calling 505-468-5885!