Your primary care provider (PCP) is your medical “home” for all your health concerns and issues. They provide you with everything from the treatment of common illnesses to screening for deadly illnesses like cancer to referring specialists for chronic health conditions.
It is important that you feel you can have honest conversations with your PCP so that they can develop a deep understanding of your health, and so that you trust each other and develop a lasting relationship. Therefore, choosing the right primary care provider is an important decision that shouldn’t be made lightly.
If you are looking for a PCP, here are a few tips that can help you choose your new primary care provider.
1. Ask Around and Gather Recommendations
This is the first and easiest step to finding a new PCP. You can talk to the people around you, including your family, friends, relatives, and colleagues about their PCPs and get recommendations.
You can also ask allied health professionals like pharmacists, optometrists, physical therapists, dentists, and others for skilled and experienced primary care doctors who work closely with you. You should make a list of all the recommendations you receive.
2. Ask Your Health Insurer
Your insurance provider can also help you find a PCP. They have a list of all primary care doctors that are in your network and are in your area.
Having a PCP that is in-network will keep your health care costs down as you won’t have to pay out of pocket every time you visit your PCP.
However, keep in mind that you still want to find a PCP in your network that is a good match for you and has the skills and experience to treat any conditions you may have.
3. Look Up the PCP’s Education and Experience
During your search for the right PCP, don’t forget to look up their education, experience, and certifications.
A primary care provider can be doctors, physician assistants (PAs), or advanced practice nurse practitioners (APRNs). While the specific education and treatment philosophies vary between each type of provider, they all undergo extensive training and hours of clinical experience before they can practice.
Physicians can be board-certified, which indicates that the doctor has achieved the highest level of accreditation in their specialty beyond a medical license. This means they have extensive knowledge in that area of medicine.
PAs must be licensed in the state to practice, and most states also require certification by the National Commission on Certification of Physician Assistants.
APRNs must be certified by a national certification program and licensed in the state to practice.
There are also different types of PCPs. Those that specialize in internal medicine or family medicine can generally treat anyone at any age. Pediatric physicians, PAs, and APRNs are considered PCPs for children and young adults. PCPs in geriatrics work with older adults, and PCPs in obstetrics/gynecology are PCPs for women’s health issues.
Overall, looking up the PCP’s education and certifications can help you determine whether they have enough experience and knowledge to be a good fit for you.
4. Read Patients’ Reviews
Just as you may have used customer reviews and testimonials before ordering something online, you can use patients’ reviews about a PCP to help you choose the right PCP.
Reading patient stories and reviews will give you an insight into the PCP’s expertise, attitude toward patients, appointment wait times, and behavior of the staff.
It’s important not to totally rely on patient reviews when choosing a PCP as the reviews can be exaggerated and sometimes misleading.
5. Make an Appointment
Once you have narrowed down your list of potential PCPs, make an appointment with them to see how their reviews and experience measure up in person. During your appointment, notify your doctor’s communication style. Also, consider if they answer your questions, value your point of view, and explain things to you clearly. At the end of the day, you want a PCP that considers you as a person, not a number.
Primary Care Provider in Irmo, SC
At SC Internal Medicine Associates & Rehabilitation, we have a team of experienced primary care providers that are experts in providing quick, affordable, and compassionate care to people of all ages. Our providers take the time to understand patients’ concerns and address them in the clearest way possible. At our center for primary care, we also have an on-site diagnostic center, sleep laboratory, and weight loss center.
To schedule a consultation with one of our compassionate and experienced primary care providers, call us at (803) 749-1111 or fill out our convenient appointment request form. We look forward to serving you!
