Since a primary care doctor is the first to treat any health problems and can help you stay healthy, it’s important to choose a primary care doctor who can be your partner in your long-term care and with which you can have a rewarding relationship.
Whether you have moved to a new community or are looking for a new primary care doctor, choosing the right primary care doctor can be overwhelming, but it shouldn’t be.
Following are some easy tips you can follow when choosing the right primary care provider in the Bronx, NY.
Tip#1 Get Recommendations and Referrals
To find the right primary care doctor, ask people around you whom you trust, like your family, friends, neighbors, and coworkers. They may recommend their PCP to you as well as give you information about the services their PCP offers.
Another best resource is your dentist, pharmacist, or other primary care doctor. They may have a list of doctors to whom they can refer you.
Tip #3 Check the Credentials
When choosing a primary care provider, check the credentials, like education, training, experience, and board certification.
Typically, a PCP completes four-year medical school and then a three-year residency program in either family medicine, internal medicine, gynecology, or pediatrics. After residency, some PCPs go into practice while others do fellowship training in a specific aspect of medicine.
A PCP may also take and pass a board certification exam. Board certification ensures that the PCP has all the necessary knowledge and skills to administer the right care.
Tip #4 Read Reviews and Testimonials
Just like you read reviews before making your purchasing decisions, read patient reviews and testimonials before choosing a PCP. You can read online reviews about the practice and doctor from the website of the practice. Remember to never completely rely on online reviews as they can be fabricated and misleading.
Tip #5Make an Appointment
When you have a list of PCPs in your hand, meet them all one by one in person and consider their communication style. It’s best to observe factors such as PCP’s listening skills, willingness to answer your questions, and ability to explain medical conditions in an understandable fashion.
Also, consider if making an appointment with the primary care doctor is easier or not.
Primary Care the Bronx, NY
At Starling Diagnostics, as your first point of contact, our medical team can help you heal from your injuries and illnesses, manage your serious health conditions, as well as optimize your health so that you keep feeling good in the long term and stay at the top of your health. We also offer screening and diagnostic imaging services so that all our patient’s needs are addressed under one roof.
To know more about our general practice or schedule a consultation, call us today at (718) 319-1610or fill out our online appointment request form.
