When your primary care provider (PCP) retires, you move, or your insurance changes, finding a new healthcare provider can be challenging and anxiety-inducing. You want someone you can trust with, well, you. You want someone knowledgeable and empathetic to your personal needs. After all, this is someone you will see during times of vulnerability. Finding the right fit and fostering a good relationship is a vital part of managing your health. There are steps you can take to find someone you are comfortable with who provides the care you are looking for.

Choosing Your Doctor 

Many different things go into why you choose a specific healthcare provider. Determine what is most important to you when selecting someone to see.

Qualifications: A PCP is a healthcare provider who sees people for common medical problems. Traditionally, this was a doctor. In the State of Oregon, medical doctors (MDs), osteopathic doctors (DOs), nurse practitioners (NPs), physician assistants (PAs), and naturopaths (NDs) can all work as primary care providers. Each type of provider has medical training, but the training varies based on their education, which affects how they provide care.

Get to Know Them: Look up their profile on the clinic’s website. This usually includes a photo and a bit of information about the person. Reading online patient reviews may give you a sense of their communication or practice style.

Office Hours and Availability: Finding someone who works when you don’t will make getting your routine care easier. Make sure you know their clinic’s hours, including any weekend or evening availability. Also, when you call to schedule, ask about the specific provider’s availability. Are they booked out months in advance? That is a warning about potential difficulty seeing them when an issue arises.

Insurance Coverage: Some clinics may take your insurance, but your insurance may not cover the one provider you want to see. An example of this is with naturopaths who are not covered by Medicare. It is also important to remember this when your insurance changes. A new insurance may not cover the provider who has managed your care for the last 10 years. Contact your insurance company for a list of covered providers.

Before Your First Appointment 

Preparing your first appointment will make the appointment go more smoothly for both you and the new PCP. There are basics any new healthcare provider will need:

Collect information on your medical history:

• Past surgeries, illnesses, chronic health conditions
• Current medications, supplements, and allergy list
• Vaccination record
• Family medical history

Make a list of concerns to talk about with the provider:

• What is most concerning to you that day?
• Keep the list short with at most three items. Appointments are typically only 20-40 minutes. Respect the provider’s time to see their other patients by scheduling a second visit if needed.
• Do you have high blood pressure or diabetes? Write down recent readings to share with the provider.

Making the Most of Your First Visit 

Show up prepared to get the visit off to a good start. This will help reduce any anxiety or stress you may have about it.

• Make sure to give yourself enough time for the appointment without needing to rush off to another task.
• Arrive early to fill out paperwork.
• Bring any past medical records or contact information for your previous PCP and specialists.
• Remember that insurance card!

Plan for open communication.

• Be honest about your health. The PCP can’t give you the best care if pieces of your healthcare puzzle are missing.
• Talk about your healthcare goals. Are you worried about a family history of dementia or trying to bring down your blood pressure? Let them know.
• Ask questions to clarify information you don’t understand.
• Request a written summary of the visit for you to review later.
• Know the next steps, such as any follow-up visits or referrals.

Building a Long-Term Relationship 

Any good relationship requires effort from both sides.

• Stay in touch with your healthcare provider by scheduling regular well checks.
• Schedule and keep the follow-up visits your provider recommends. These visits are generally to keep an eye on health concerns.
• Keep your PCP updated about any changes to your health, such as new injuries or surgeries.
• If you see a specialist, go to urgent care, or the emergency room, make sure the records of your visit are sent to your PCP.

Finding a PCP can go smoothly with a bit of preparation. One of the fundamental components to developing a good relationship with your healthcare provider is seeing them regularly, not just when you have a problem. This helps the PCP get to know you and your health situation. Open communication will go a long way in building a strong provider-patient relationship, which can help to improve your health outcomes.

AUTHOR: Leanna Coy, FNP-C, Family Nurse Practitioner and Health Content Writer