Selecting a Family Doctor to Treat Your Loved Ones

There should be a lot of consideration placed in choosing a family doctor, unfortunately, many people don't take the time to research and learn about physicians in their area. Research and learning about doctors is important because this individual is likely to be your primary physician throughout your life, so making the right selection is critical. Obviously, you want a doctor that is experienced, professional and also someone that keeps current on research, medical techniques and the latest in medical practices.

However, you may also have special needs in your family doctor. This will depend on a variety of factors including the age of your family and any existing health conditions. In many cases a family physician may also have a specialization or have additional medical experience in treating a particular condition. This is important if there are inherited conditions within the family such as diabetes, blood disorders or neurological or metabolic conditions that can be passed from the parents to the children. Having a physician that can treat these conditions as well as provide monitoring and preventive medicine is essential and may also help in early detection and referral to specialists.

Although not all doctors have an area of specialization, they are all trained in general health care and management. Family care physicians can treat everyone in the family from pregnant women and their newborns through to grandparents. Typically these types of physicians also have a strong referral network to consult with specialists in geriatrics, obstetrics, pediatric care and in specialized areas of health care. These specialized areas may include surgeons, internists, cardiologists, dermatologists or gastroenterologists. Typically the primary physician first detects a concern or possible diagnosis, then refers the patient to the specialist for treatment, with the family physician then working with follow up and ongoing care.

You should also carefully research your prospective family doctor's credentials and training. In most countries doctors have to complete a specified program of study that includes both academic training as well as a residency component. Doctors may also be board certified, which means they have completed additional specialized training. For general physicians, the Board of Family Medicine often is the credential or certification you will notice, however, other certifications can and are often seen. This information should be listed on the physician's website but it is also available by the licensing agency within the specific state or country in which the doctor practices.

If you have a health care policy that limits your choice of a family doctor to a specific list or set of choices it is still important to research their credentials and training on your own. Remember too that it is essential to actually meet the doctor and see his or her clinic, office or facility before making a final decision. You will need to check on the wait time to get an appointment, the hours the doctor is available and if he or she is someone you are comfortable with in discussion your health and medical concerns.

Choosing the right family doctor for the care of your family is an important step. Friends, family and co-workers can be a good source for referrals, just make sure you also do the research and not just take someone's word for the qualifications and treatment focus of the physician. Many physicians provide a wealth of information on their websites which allows you to learn about their training, areas of specialization, experience and even their philosophy of treating and working with patients.