How Do I Find a Doctor for My Busy Schedule? 5 Things You Should Know
“How on earth do I find a doctor for my busy schedule?” Questions like these are becoming increasingly common for patients in need of primary care, and not just because of COVID-19. For years now, appointment wait times have trended longer and longer, while facetime between doctors and patients remains relatively low. Finding a great doctor who doesn’t make you wait days (or weeks) for an appointment may feel like searching for a needle in a haystack, but it doesn’t have to be. Believe it or not, it’s completely possible to find an attentive physician with plenty of availability to get you taken care of. The key is to know how to look for them in the first place, and that’s exactly what we’re covering today.
Outline Your Needs
Is there a time-sensitive reason why you want to see a doctor, or are you simply looking for a new primary care provider? Are you looking to treat a specific injury, or are you managing a chronic condition? Finding the best primary care means working with a physician whose approach aligns with your goals. Determine what your short- and long-term health goals are, and use them as a sounding board as you evaluate potential physicians. If you’re young, healthy, and simply looking for someone you can go to for annual checkups, your ideal doctor will probably be different from the right physician for someone older who’s got a serious health condition. Outline your goals, then go about finding a physician who suits them.
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Ask the Right Questions
As you evaluate your options for a primary care physician, consider a few important questions:
- How important is it for you to have unlimited communication with them?
- Are you happy with your current lifestyle choices (diet, exercise levels, sleep, stress levels)?
- Are you suffering from long standing pain or a chronic condition that you’ll need to continuously manage?
- Do you feel uncomfortable advocating for yourself in a medical setting, and/or would you like your primary care physician to be one of your medical advocates?
The point of these questions is to help you identify where previous primary care experiences have fallen short for you so that you can find an alternative that fits your needs, regardless of your schedule. It’s one thing to wait a day or two to confirm an appointment with a physician whose approach is great for you; it’s another to wait the same amount of time for a doctor whose approach is incompatible with your goals. Saving time isn’t always about cutting down time; it’s about minimizing the amount of time you waste on appointments that aren’t right for your needs.
Look for Automated Patient Intake
Speaking of saving time: one of the best ways to cut down on the amount of time you spend waiting to see your doctor is to go with a doctor’s office that lets you fill your forms out digitally before your consultation. This allows you to not only save time in the waiting room, but to also spend as much time as you need to on your forms to ensure that all of the information provided is correct. It also gives your doctor time to look over your information before your appointment, allowing them to dedicate as much of your appointment time as possible to actually speaking with you face-to-face.
Know When To Go With Telehealth
And when telemedicine just won’t cut it. Telemedicine can be a solid option in a pinch, but it’s no replacement for in-person appointments with your physician. As wait times for appointments become longer, it can be tempting for patients to opt for a virtual doctor’s visit instead of an in-person appointment. If your only options are a virtual visit or no appointment at all, go with the telehealth option. With that said, if you’re looking to get the best experience possible with a primary care practitioner, opt for in-person visits every time.
Opt for Concierge Medicine
Ultimately, getting a win-win situation out of your doctor’s appointments (higher-quality appointments with less wait times) means opting for a doctor who offers a relationship-based approach to patient care–and that’s exactly what concierge medicine has to offer. A concierge plan gives you 24/7 access to your doctor; that means they’re always up to date on your health journey and any developments that happen as it continues. It also means that you get priority appointments (AKA no more two-week wait times for a visit). Your concierge doctor is your greatest advocate in the event that you’re hospitalized. They’re also able to tailor your treatment to new developments in your health, which means that you’re always receiving the best and most relevant treatment for your needs. Going with a concierge physician gives you that much-sought-after, elusive “win-win” scenario in primary care, saving you time while providing a higher standard of care.
If you’re interested in learning more about concierge medicine, you’ve come to the right place. Just click here to see a breakdown of what you can expect from working with a concierge physician.
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