There are some factors that may play a role in your choice of physicians, including whether or not they are a covered provider under your health insurance program, their qualifications and specialties and how comfortable you feel in their presence. A great amount of consideration must be given when selecting a family physician in Mississauga because, as their job title implies, you are trusting them with the well-being of your family.
If you are like most, word of mouth is an important source of information. This is not to say that one should believe everything that they hear, but a good reference from a trusted friend or family member is a good thing, especially when it comes to choosing a physician for your family. It takes much more than a medical degree to make someone a good doctor. In fact, it takes a combination of personal and medical skills that can make a patient feel comfortable, while also being certain that their health needs are being met.
I’ve been a family physician long enough to have enjoyed the formalization of family medicine as a recognized specialty, survived the turf battles with specialists in obstetrics and gynecology, dermatology, and gastroenterology to retain hospital privileges to deliver babies and do inpatient medicine and to do office procedures. I’ve heard that family medicine is the future of primary care, is destined to become obsolete, and most recently that because of debt of medical education, lifestyle choices of young physicians, and poor pay the US cannot train enough family doctors.
One of the most important steps to choosing a family physician in Fredericton is to ask questions. When you walk into a doctor’s office, you will immediately get a feel for how they do business. Is their room neat and orderly? Does their staff conduct themselves in an efficient and professional manner? These are important assessments to make because employees often reflect greatly upon the physician they work for.
When seeing a physician for the first time, it’s important to ask about after-hour emergencies and how they are handled. Believe it or not, some physicians still make house calls and may even make themselves readily available if their patients need them in the evening or on weekends. It’s also important to be honest about the care that you, as a patient, or your family needs and be sure to bring all medical records with you during the initial consultation. Also, a complete list of any current or past medications should be provided, along with details surrounding any allergies that you have experienced about a specific treatment and medication.
In conclusion, there may be some terrific physicians in your area, but there may only be one that is right for you and your family. The right family physician will be able to communicate with you in a way that helps you to understand your health or that of your family, and what’s being done to ensure the best care possible for those that you love.
The information contained in this article is designed to be used for reference purposes only. It should not be used as, in place of or in conjunction with professional advice and recommendations surrounding medicine or the selection of a specific physician.
