How to choose a medical practice

Time with your physician and care team is the most valuable thing they can give you. The standard 10 minute appointments are not adequate to form relationships, counsel on lifestyle, and give patients the time to ask questions and have their stories be heard. If your healthcare provider does not give you the time you need, it’s time to find someone who will.

Here are some tips:

When choosing a medical practice, ask yourself these important questions: Does your practice make it easy for you to get care? Is it easy to communicate with your practice? Is your practice able to provide most of your care or do they just refer everything out to specialists?

It’s important for your doctor to know who you are as an individual. Your doctor and care team should consider all factors that affect your health. You shouldn’t be re-iterating the same story over and over to a rotating slew of different providers.

Does your doctor go the extra step for you? We treat our patients as we want our family members to be treated: Referrals to top-notch specialists in the area or beyond, direct physician advocacy when our patients aren’t getting anywhere with care in other settings, and seamless care coordination are all part of high quality healthcare.

Is your medical practice just keeping you afloat or are they keeping you healthy and helping you meet your health goals? Don’t settle for mediocrity!