How to choose a primary care physician

For individuals and families, it is important to have a primary care physician. Primary care physicians include family practitioners, pediatricians and internists. These physicians diagnose and treat patients for common medical conditions that aren’t emergencies.

 When needed, they also refer patients to medical specialists. In addition, they can provide preventive care, including recommending healthy lifestyle choices.

Since primary care physicians usually have a longtime relationship with their patients, it is important to choose a physician that you are comfortable communicating with. When choosing a primary care physician, the National Institutes of Health recommends considering the following:

• Is the office staff friendly and helpful? Is the office good about returning calls?
• Are the office hours convenient to your schedule?
• How easy is it to reach the provider? Does the provider use email?
• Do you prefer a provider whose communication style is friendly and warm, or more formal?
• Do you prefer a provider focused on disease treatment, or wellness and prevention?
• Does the provider have a conservative or aggressive approach to treatment?
• Does the provider order a lot of tests?
• Does the provider refer to other specialists frequently or infrequently?
• What do colleagues and patients say about the provider?
• Does the provider invite you to be involved in your care? Does the provider view your patient-doctor relationship as a true partnership?

Once a relationship has been established with a primary care physician, it is important to communicate openly with your doctor.

“When my patients are discussing anything, if they don’t clearly understand what’s going on, fear increases,” said Dr. Albert Przybylski, a McLaren Macomb family practice physician. “Communication about medications, test procedures, specialists and follow up is of the utmost importance to keep fears at bay.”

Dr. Tara Eastin, a McLaren Macomb internist, also emphasizes the importance of communication between patients and physicians. “I encourage patients to be active participants in their relationship with their physicians,” she said. “By doing that I think it makes people feel more empowered. I advise patients prior to their appointment to come up with one, two or three things that are the most important to them. I try very hard to make it a partnership with my patients,” she added.