The worst time to search for a doctor is when you need one. Establishing a primary care physician ahead of time and continually using that same doctor allows you to know the doctor’s hours and practices as well as he will know you and your family and its medical history. Find someone that you feel comfortable with asking questions and sharing concerns.

Types of Primary Care Doctors
Selecting your doctor is a big decision. Find the right primary care doctor before you have a problem.

• I have recently moved.
• I have never been sick and needed a doctor.
• I am pregnant and need a pediatrician.

If you answered “yes” to any of these questions, now is the time to select a primary care doctor who is specially trained to serve as your main doctor throughout your lifetime. These doctors provide medical care and healthcare, help you stay healthy and assist in managing your care. In addition, your primary care doctor will refer you to specialists if necessary.

• Family medicine/general practice doctors are doctors who specialize in the general healthcare of families. They are trained in several basic disciplines including internal medicine, pediatrics, obstetrics, gynecology, general surgery and psychiatry. They can be board certified, can treat the whole family from children to seniors and some may deliver babies.
• Internal medicine doctors diagnose and treat disease in adults. Some of these doctors are sub specialists, such as a cardiologist who treats heart patients or a doctor who treats geriatric patients. They also can be board certified in general internal medicine or subspecialties.
• Pediatricians are doctors who specialize in the care of children, from infants to teens. Some are sub specialists, and they can be board certified.
• Obstetricians and gynecologists provide all or most of women’s primary care needs. Obstetricians specialize in caring for women during pregnancy, and gynecologists specialize in problems of the reproductive system, birth control methods and general health of women. They also can be sub specialists and board certified.

Click here for a list of physicians and caregivers and what they do.

How Do I Find a Doctor?
You can find a doctor by asking a doctor you know and have a good relationship with; family, friends and neighbors; or hospitals.

For University of Tennessee Medical Center doctors, visit Find-A-Doctor or call 1.877.UT.CARES (1.877.882.2737). These services provide information on physicians’ education, residency training, board certification and specialty area information on line and over the phone.

Checklist for Finding Your Doctor
The Agency for Health Care Policy and Research (AHCPR) recommends the following “Quick Checklist” for choosing a doctor. A doctor should

• Have the training and credentials. (You can search Find-A-Doctor to learn the educational backgrounds and board certifications of doctors who practice at UT Medical Center.)

  
  Because UT Medical Center is affiliated with the UT Graduate School of Medicine, most of the staff also serves as faculty to the medical and dental residency programs. Being affiliated with a medical school means patients have access to highly skilled specialists who teach and must be familiar with the latest technology. Besides extensive education and experience, most faculty members are board certified.

• Have privileges at the hospital of your choice (ask the doctor).
• Take steps to prevent illness (talk with you about weight loss, quitting smoking).
• Encourage you to ask questions.
• Listen to you.
• Explain information clearly.
• Treat you with respect.

Other things to consider when selecting your doctor include hours of operation, location, hospital affiliation, accepted health plan/insurance, education and licensing, sex of doctor (if it is important to you) and if there is an urgent care facility available.

What Does Board Certification Mean?

• Board certified means the doctor has completed a training program in a specialty and has passed an exam (board) to assess his knowledge, skills and experience to provide quality patient care in that specialty.
• Board eligible means the doctor is qualified to take a test but has not yet taken the test.

In addition, the Center for Women’s Health at UT Medical Center offer healthcare coordinators, which are available by calling 1.877.UT.CARES (1.877.882.2737) Monday through Friday from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.

Good healthcare for your family starts with a qualified doctor you and your family can trust. Take the time before anything happens to select your healthcare provider.