3 Things To Look For In An Excellent Primary Care Physician Service
Posted on: 13 May 2021
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A primary care physician plays a large role in ensuring that you stay healthy since they're the health care provider responsible for addressing immediate health concerns like illnesses along with helping patients manage their chronic health conditions. Since they have such an important job, you need to ensure that you have a good rapport with your primary care physician. If you don't currently have a primary care physician or if you're looking for a new one, read on to find out what you should search for in an excellent primary care doctor.
1. Excellent Availability
One of the most important things to look for in a primary care physician is ample availability. Your primary care physician is the first person that you should see whenever a medical issue arises, so it's important that they have the ability to get you into the clinic quickly — ideally, they should be able to see you the same day or the next day. When you have an infection, for example, it's best to start antibiotics as quickly as possible if the infection is caused by bacteria. Early antibiotic treatment helps you get over your illness quicker, and it also reduces the chance that your infection will worsen.
This extends to your primary care physician's staff as well. You should be able to easily reach members of the office staff on the phone if you have any questions about your treatment that don't require you to come for an in-person visit.
2. Explains Your Treatments and Diagnoses Well
An excellent primary care physician will work with you in order to keep you as healthy as possible, and part of this is being able to inform you more about your diagnoses and your treatments. Your primary care provider should be able to explain what the medications that you're prescribed do, how they help treat your conditions, and what side effects you should watch out for. They should be open to further questions, and the appointment times should be long enough so that you're able to ask all of the questions you need to. A good primary care physician will have an intense focus on patient education, as knowing more about a medical condition and its potential treatments helps you make more informed decisions about your health.
3. Provides Excellent Support to Help You Manage Chronic Conditions
Primary care physicians play an important role in helping patients manage their chronic conditions through prescribing medication and helping you make changes in your lifestyle. Many chronic health conditions, like hypertension and type 2 diabetes, can cause more serious health problems if they're not well-controlled. A good primary care physician will monitor your chronic conditions, adjust medication dosages if necessary and help you make important changes in your life that can preserve your health, such as quitting smoking.
Ultimately, a primary care physician service needs to be attentive to your health needs. Your physician should spend as much time as necessary addressing your questions, helping you make informed choices about your health. Since your primary care physician is responsible for so much of your care, it's important to find an excellent one — if you've recently moved, your current doctor has retired or you're not happy with your current doctor, look for a primary care physician service that addresses your concerns, educates you about medical issues and empowers you to take charge of your own health.
Reach out to a company like Medical Associates Of Bedford VA for more information.