You don’t need to be sick before selecting and visiting a doctor. When you have flu symptoms, a nagging headache, or a body rash, you need a qualified doctor for relief. Even if you think you might have contracted COVID-19, the best person to talk to is your primary care doctor.
How do you find and choose the best primary care doctor to take care of you and your family?
Before you begin your search, you must understand there are different types of primary doctors. This knowledge will help you make an informed decision when choosing a family physician.
Read more: Is a Primary Care Physician Responsible for Diagnosis and Treatment?
What is a primary care doctor?
A person trained, certified, and licensed to carry out preventive care and manage your health. These health practitioners handle injuries and illnesses when they happen.
Essentially, primary care doctors do the following:
- Conduct regular physical exams on a patient
- Prescribe medications
- Treat minor illnesses and injuries
- Manage chronic conditions
- Screen for common health problems for early detection and prevention
Read more: Cost Savings of Direct Primary Care: A Deep Dive
The different types of primary care doctors include:
- Family medicine doctors
- Internal medicine-pediatric doctors
- Pediatricians
- Internal medicine doctors
- OB-GYNs
For a family with children, you will need a family medicine doctor. These primary care physicians are trained to care for both adults and children. They see babies, growing children, parents and grandparents.
Other types of primary care doctors specialize in different areas of family needs. Your family’s needs will guide your choice.
Read more: Benefits of Direct Primary Care Providers in the Coachella Valley
Tips to find and select a primary care doctor
- Check with your insurance provider
If you hold an insurance policy, the best place to find the right family doctor is from your provider. Most insurance companies offer local healthcare provider information, within your network and without.
- Consider what you want
Finding the right primary care doctor is similar to shopping. You need to identify your needs and wants, before you are in the store. Do you want one doctor for all of your medical needs? Or do you possibly need multiple types of medical care? You can also make decisions such as whether you feel more comfortable with a male or female physician, and what type of bedside manner you prefer.
- Ask your trusted friends and family
Nothing beats a referral when finding the right doctor. However, you can ask friends and family you trust, for recommendations.
- Read reviews
From the list of the doctors you have, take your time to check online for reviews on each one. Read their bios and see where they work or have worked. You can look at their background, their education, and the associations they belong to.
- Research the doctor’s accessibility
It can be disappointing to have a doctor you can’t readily see when you need them. Health issues have no timetable. Is the doctor’s office far from your home, school, or office? Look for proximity and ease of access, for your primary care physician.
- Arrange a meeting
Once you have a final list of possible doctors, arrange a meeting with each one. Your primary care doctor will be an important person in the lives of your family members. It’s a good idea to discover what your doctor/patient relationship will be like before you commit. You can arrange a brief phone call meeting or another means convenient for both of you.
Read more: Direct Primary Care Benefits for Small Businesses
FAQs
How do I choose the right primary care doctor near me?
- Start with your insurance directory to filter in-network PCPs, then shortlist by location, hospital affiliation, office hours, new-patient status, and communication style. Ask trusted referrals and read reviews; it’s fine to book a brief “fit” visit before committing.
Family medicine vs. internal medicine—who should I pick as an adult?
- Both are primary-care specialties. Family medicine treats patients of all ages (kids to seniors); internal medicine focuses on adults (18+). Choose based on your needs (e.g., whole-family care vs. adult-only, complexity of conditions).
Can a nurse practitioner (NP) or physician assistant (PA) be my primary care provider?
- Yes. NPs and PAs are licensed clinicians who diagnose, treat, order tests, and prescribe; the scope varies by state and practice. They’re a valid option when access to MD/DOs is tight—compare training, availability, and clinic model.
How often should I see my primary care provider?
- Plan a yearly preventive visit (well visit/annual checkup) to review risks, vaccines, and screening—not just when you’re sick. For Medicare, an Annual Wellness Visit is covered every 12 months (separate from a physical). Follow age-/risk-based screening schedules.
What should I ask at the first appointment to judge fit?
- Confirm: in-network status, how to reach the team (portal/phone), typical wait for urgent/same-day visits, after-hours coverage, hospital affiliation, and approach to referrals/continuity. Treat it like a hiring interview—you’re selecting the leader of your care team.
Read more: Direct Primary Care for Chronic Disease Management
A Rewarding Healthcare Relationship
There are inexhaustible ways of finding and selecting the right primary care doctor. Talking to a practitioner in the field and following these tips, will guide you on your search and selection. Choosing your family’s doctor should be a rewarding experience, meant to develop into a lifelong relationship between your loved ones and a trustworthy medical care provider.
Coachella Valley Direct Primary Care Physicians, located in Rancho Mirage California, and serving the entire Coachella Valley, for all their primary healthcare needs. Offering in office, and virtual appointments. The membership program allows you to have full access, without long waiting, high unexpected healthcare costs, and doctors who work with you to help you live the best optimum life possible.
Read more: What is a Primary Care Physician, and What Do They Do?
For one low monthly fee, you avoid waiting, office visit fees, and a referral network to all specialists necessary to meet your needs.
Our website – https://coachellavalleydpc.com/
Call us direct 760-642-5549
Serving Palm Springs, Desert Hot Springs, Cathedral City, Rancho Mirage, Palm Desert, Indian Wells, La Quinta, Indio, and Coachella.
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