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Question: My family doctor is retiring. Her office sent me a list of doctors who are taking on new patients. How do I pick one?
Answer: It’s certainly worthwhile putting some thought into your selection.
After all, “your family physician is one of the most important relationships in your life,” says Dr. Joshua Tepper, president and CEO of Health Quality Ontario, an agency of the provincial government.
So, you’ll want to be sure that you feel comfortable with your new doctor, says Dr. Tepper, who is also a physician in a family practice at St. Michael’s Hospital in Toronto.
Physicians now work in a wide variety of settings, ranging from traditional solo practices to groups of doctors who are linked to other health-related services. The type of practice could be a big factor in your final choice. But there are three key things to consider when making your decision – access to care, your specific health needs, and the doctor’s communication style.
Access to Care
You may have a great doctor, but that won’t do much good if you can’t get an appointment when you need one. If your own work schedule is fairly rigid, then that could make your access problems even worse. However, some doctors’ offices have evening and weekend clinics or hold open a certain number of appointments every day for urgent cases. You can get a good idea about how easy it is to get an appointment by calling the doctor’s receptionist and asking about after-hours clinics and the ability to get a same-day or next-day booking.
Physicians who work in groups or teams may take turns covering for each other. This approach can make it easier for patients to get timely care. But it also means you may not always see your own doctor – especially when you go to an after-hours clinic. Some patients don’t mind having appointments with other physicians. But if you feel it’s necessary to be treated by your own doctor all the time, then this may not be the best option for you.
The location of the office may also be an important consideration for some patients. It’s not ideal if the office is extremely far from your home or workplace. You’ll be wasting precious time going back and forth if you have many appointments.
Your health needs
Some doctors develop practices that focus on certain groups of patients. And you may feel more comfortable with a doctor who already has numerous patients like you. For instance, some physicians see a lot of young families and children – and deliver babies, too. If you’re starting your own family, you may want to gravitate to a doctor whose practice is child-centred.
Other physicians treat a high percentage of seniors. If you are getting on in years, then you may want a doctor who is willing to do home visits for older patients.
You’ll also find that certain medical teams have links to other health-related services that might include dietitians, occupational therapists, addiction counselling and social workers. The extra services “usually depend on the needs in the surrounding community,” explains Dr. Lisa Del Giudice, a physician in the Academic Family Health Team at Sunnybrook Health Sciences Centre.
Some doctors are closely connected to teaching hospitals which can sometimes put you in touch with new and innovative therapies. But it’s also worth noting that you will likely be examined by medical students and residents in clinics that are affiliated with certain universities and hospitals. Staff physicians will be supervising the doctors-in-training. But “if you’re bothered by sometimes being seen by students and residents, then an academic setting isn’t the right place for you,” says Dr. Del Giudice, who is also an Assistant Professor at the University of Toronto.
When assessing the doctors on the list, think about how their particular type of practice meets your needs.
Communication styles
It’s critically important to be able to talk freely with your doctor about your health concerns.
“Different people feel comfortable with different communication styles and approaches,” says Dr. Tepper. “It’s actually okay to interview a potential doctor” to see if he or she is right for you.
Dr. Tepper has had people book an appointment simply to get to know him before deciding to join his practice.
“I think this is a great approach for patients. It’s a chance for us to chat about their priorities,” says Dr. Tepper. “Sometimes they ask me if I am willing to answer their questions over the phone or by email. Some people have even asked my views on abortion or end-of-life care.” All those issues are worth discussing, he says.
Of course, like any relationship “it takes work and time to develop a rapport,” says Emily Nicholas Angl, an advisor with Patients Canada.
Most people link up with a new family doctor when they are in generally good health. “You have to imagine what that relationship will feel like in a time of crisis,” says Dr. Tepper. It’s not an exaggeration to say that your life could some day depend on that relationship.
Before you make your selection, create a list of your health priorities and consider whether one of the doctors you’re checking out is a “good fit” for you.
Starting the search
Of course, not all patients start their search for a new doctor by being handed a list of available physicians.
But similar information often can be found on the internet. Many provinces have now set up websites to help link patients to health care providers. For instance, the Ontario Ministry of Health and Long-Term Care has an online service called Health Care Connect.
The information “is usually just a few Google strokes away,” says Dr. Tepper.
It’s also true that parts of the country have a smaller supply of doctors than others and some people do struggle to find a family physician.
Dr. Del Giudice says it’s a good idea to ask friends and family for names of physicians who might be taking on new patients. “Word of mouth can be very helpful for matching up to a doctor,” she says.
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Paul Taylor, Sunnybrook’s Patient Navigation Advisor, provides advice and answers questions from patients and their families. His blog, Personal Health Navigator, is reprinted on Healthy Debate with the kind permission of Sunnybrook Health Sciences Centre. Follow Paul on Twitter @epaultaylor.
The comments section is closed.
I appreciate that you mentioned that it is always a good idea to look to your family and friends to help you find the names of physicians who are taking in new patients. We have been talking about finding a doctor for our son because he needs to have a few procedures done to help him heal from his sports injuries, and it will be important for us to know that we could easily find the right doctor. To help us, I will be sure to get referrals from our family and friends. http://neuroregenerativecenter.net/stem-cell-treatment/
I have a question. My mother does not like her current GP and would like to switch to another in her clinic. The newGP says she is taking new patients. When my mother asked the staff to change they refused and said they have a policy that say they aren’t allowed. Now as I understand it they cannot do that it goes against public policy and that we can report them to the college. Is that accurate?
Thank you for the tips you have shared in this content. Well written!
I like how you mention that it’s important to know what your health needs are before making a decision on a doctor. It’s part of the research process that goes into finding the right medical practice. If you find a doctor that has a practice that focuses on certain people with specific needs, then it may be best to look for a different practice. I recently moved and I am now looking for a new doctor. It’s important that they understand my needs, but first I need to know if my health needs are something that they treat in the first place.
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I agree that it is important to find a doctor that is easily accessible. I can imagine that not being able to get in to visit your primary physician would be pretty frustrating. I would also think that it is important to be able to contact your primary physician outside of office hours during times of emergency. http://www.victoriastreetmedicalgroup.com.au/practice-information/
I love your advice to interview a doctor before deciding to trust them with my family. I guess that I have been intimidated in the past, thinking that I was taking away from their busy time. It makes me feel better knowing that in your experience, they are willing to listen to me and care about me even though I’m not their patient yet.
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Another good idea in searching for a doctor is looking up reviews online. You can see what other people say about that particular doctor. You can see if their experiences were good or not so good. Then, you can choose the doctor that looks best!
Thank you very much. This information was very important for me to find a family doctor who is a good fit. I was nervous about it until now. I appreciate your help.
I liked your idea to ask family and friends for recommendations. My husband and I need to find a new family physician because we recently moved to a new state. We have some friends that live in the city next to us, so I will ask them for recommendations. http://advmednaples.com/features/family-practice-in-naples/