How To Find A Good Doctor In Your Area

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Finding an excellent primary care physician is a vital part of your health. However, many individuals find this to be a challenging endeavor. Locating a reliable doctor in your area capable of managing your specific needs isn’t as easy at it sounds, but this article is here to help. 

From family practitioners to specialty doctors with unique skills, there are a number of steps to take before making them your primary care physician of choice. Here’s everything you need to know. 

Your Main Doc 

Almost every insurance plan requires that you select a go-to physician for yearly checkups and day-to-day care. This is the person you’ll see if you sprain your ankle or need a flu shot, as well as who will help you select specialists when you need them. Consider this doctor your guide to the often-confusing world of health care. 

Depending on your situation, you may need a doctor for just you or your family. If you had a family of five in New Jersey, for instance, then you might be better off looking for a Jersey City family doctor. If it’s just you or your partner as well, then it makes more sense to find a doctor for yourself. 

Abiding By Your Policy 

The first determining factor in selecting a doctor in your area is your health insurance. The area you live in will have several doctors who accept your insurance, giving you the initial list of which practices you can go to. While that might sound limiting, it is often more than most people think. 

Once you know who is in your network, you can start calling individual practices to make sure they accept your health insurance. You might find that a practice has recently dropped your plan, which is why it helps to double-check. 

Narrowing Down The List 

While asking about your insurance coverage, make sure to ask about the doctor’s hospital affiliation. Doctors often have admitting privileges to a specific hospital, and you want that location to be nearby in the event of an emergency. You can also look up hospital ratings if there are multiple in your area. 

Next, check out the doctor’s board certification. Every practitioner must undergo continued education to hold onto their certification, outside of the years spent studying to start practicing medicine. You can identify red flags like malpractice claims or disciplinary actions from the American Board of Medical Specialties during this step. 

Getting To Know Your Physician 

Your list should be small by now, containing one to three options. Now is the time to make an appointment. Remember, you can always choose a different doctor if your initial visit doesn’t go over well. 

Pay attention to how the doctor listens to you, answers questions, and offers explanations for any diagnosis or treatment. Are the staff friendly and helpful? Does the doctor advocate for pharmaceutical reps or are they committed to the best findings in medicine? 

It also helps to ask about specialists. If you wanted to know where to get a breast lift, have a mole removed, or needed the help of an Immunologist for allergies, who would they recommend? This can help you decide if the doctor’s network of specialists makes them a better choice. 

There are plenty of potential patients out there looking for good physicians of all types. If you are a doctor seeking a new position, make sure to check physician jobs in your area.


I hope you enjoyed this blog post about how to find a good physician or top medical doctor in your area on a frugal budget.

Interested in more articles about maximizing your medical health? 

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