How to Find a Family Doctor | Employee Benefits Broker Fort Worth

Jun 2, 2015
2 min read

Finding a doctor isn't as easy as flipping through the phone book. You have to contend with your insurance network, your specific health concerns and the availability of doctors in your community. You have to find a doctor with whom you're comfortable and who listens to you and understands your concerns. Depending on the size of your community, that could mean sorting through hundreds of doctors. The investment in time and research will be well worth it once you've established a positive relationship with a family doctor who understands your care needs and values you as a patient.

Step 1

Contact your health insurance agent for a list of in-network or preferred providers. Check the back of your health insurance card for the customer service telephone number or check any paperwork you received when you started your policy. Insurance companies can insist you visit certain doctors, making your choice a simple one. You may also see providers who are out-of-network, typically for an additional cost.

Step 2

Ask any specialist you're currently seeing--like your pediatrician, gynecologist, dermatologist or psychiatrist--for recommendations for family physicians. They may have friends or partners who work in family medicine and who may be accepting new patients. If you've recently been hospitalized or made a quick trip to the emergency room, ask hospital staff for recommendations. Your attending doctor might advise you to schedule follow-up appointments with your family doctor. Explain you don't have one and the hospital doctor may be able to recommend a physician who works in--or is affiliated with--the hospital who can manage your care.

Step 3

Get word-of-mouth recommendations from friends, coworkers, family members and neighbors. Ask if their family doctors spend time with them, answer their questions and provide quality care. Sometimes word-of-mouth is the best way to find a family doctor with whom you'll be comfortable.

Step 4

Contact the American Medical Association. This group maintains a database of more than 800,000 doctors and specialists. Use their online service to browse physicians in your area and to read about each physician's hours, specialties, types of education and insurance requirements.

Step 5

Make an appointment with the doctor you choose to meet and discuss your care. This initial session will help you determine if you have a good rapport with your doctor and if she seems willing to spend time with you, answer your questions and take your input into consideration. If you feel uncomfortable with your doctor or unhappy about your visit, repeat your search.