So you’re in the market for a new primary care provider?
Congratulations, you are about to embark on an important journey that could result in you switching primary care providers–and finding a long-term partner in your efforts to live a long, healthy and happy life.
But where do you start? Afterall, switching primary care providers isn’t something most people do every day, much less every month or year.
The good news is that you’re not alone. Switching primary care providers is actually quite common. Some people do it because they’ve moved. Some people do it because their families are expanding. Some want a second opinion. And some people do it because they need a doctor who is closer to work, home, daycare, school or their commute.
Convenience matters, and the good news is that technology has made switching primary care providers more convenient than ever. Here’s a three-step plan for switching primary care providers:
Step 1: Find a New Physician
You don’t want to leave your current primary care provider until you have found a new physician. Start by researching in-network doctors and defining your needs. Then get referrals from friends and family for physicians that meet your logistical needs. Finally, read online reviews about the doctors you’re considering and then make an appointment.
Step 2: Make Sure You Have Your Medical Records
Prior to your first appointment with your new primary care physician, you are going to make sure that you have your medical records.
For many, this step is the most uncomfortable part of switching primary care physicians because you have to end a relationship.
The best way to handle this step is to be professional. Yes, you had a relationship with your primary care physicians–and in many cases a deeply personal relationship–but at the end of the day they understand that needs change.
So simply ask for your medical records, inform the office staff that you will be switching primary care providers and thank them for their service.
There are several ways to get your medical records. You can request them yourself and hand-deliver them to your new doctor or you can request that they be sent directly from your current physician to your new physician.
Making sure that you (and your new primary care physician) have your medical records is important to ensuring that your healthcare needs are able to be seamlessly addressed after switching primary care providers.
Step 3: Connect with Your New Office
There’s one more thing you are going to want to do before your first clinical visit with your new physician, and that’s connect with your new office.
There is often paperwork that needs to be completed, questions that need to be answered and insurance information that needs to be shared before your first appointment.
In order to make sure your first visit goes smoothly, you should call your new clinic and ask them to email over all the forms and information you’ll need. Getting all of the paperwork out of the way before you arrive will give you more time to acclimate to your new clinic environment, meet the staff and begin to build another rewarding relationship with your new primary care physician.
Get Help Switching Primary Care Providers
If you are in the market for a new primary care provider, all you have to do is follow the three-step process above. But if you have additional questions or need a little help with the process, connect with Derry Medical Services. They’ll answer your questions, help you find a physician and make the process even easier for you and your family.
They know that it can be extremely difficult to find a primary care physician and they want you to know that DMC Primary Care is one of the few special places that is ALWAYS accepting new patients.
