Choosing A Doctor
Choosing a family-care physician is a vital decision.
You’re not just choosing a doctor, you’re choosing a
partner. Together, you and your family-care physician
will go about the serious business of managing your
health. Here are some things to think about as you make
this important decision.
What types of physicians provide primary care?
Family-medicine physicians and internal-medicine
physicians, or internists, are often primary-care
providers. Obstetricians/gynecologists (OB/GYN) and
pediatricians also can be designated as primary-care
providers depending on your health-insurance plan. See
our "Types of Providers" page for more details about
these specialties and be sure to consult your
health-insurance plan to learn what types of physicians
it covers.
What type of doctor would best suit my needs?
That depends. If you want one doctor to treat your whole
family, you may want to choose a family-medicine doctor
as your primary-care physician. If you have a chronic
condition, such as high blood pressure or diabetes, you
might want to choose an internist.
If you are a woman with concerns about women's health
issues, then an OB/GYN might be a good choice. If you
want your son or daughter to be seen by someone who
specializes in children's health, you may want a
pediatrician.
Is the physician's office in a convenient location?
Is the physician covered by my health plan?
What is his or her philosophy of care?
What are the physician's clinical interests?
What is his or her experience and education?
Who covers for the physician when he or she is not
available?
How are after hours medical concerns handled?
You can find much of this information about doctors who
practice at United Health Services by clicking on one of
the buttons below.
(Family Practice, OB/GYN, Internal Medicine)
(Pediatric Family Practice, Pediatric General Medicine)
What if I need more specialized care?
Referrals to specialists often are made by a
primary-care physician. If you need to see a specialist,
discuss your concerns with your primary-care physician.
Feel free to ask your doctor for more than one name if
you wish to get a second opinion.
Do I need a referral in order to see a specialist?
In some cases, patients may make their own appointment
with a specialist. You will need to verify with your
insurance plan whether you are eligible to self-refer.
You can also contact the specialist to make sure that he
or she accepts self-referrals.
