Primary care providers are necessary to ensure you lead a healthy life. It’s important to have a primary care physician that you feel comfortable talking to about your lifestyle and health concerns. Not all primary care providers deliver the same quality of patient care or have the same approaches to patient health.
Your health is important and if ever you have second thoughts about your doctor, you may need to consider a switch. Take a look at some of the signs that your doctor isn’t the best fit and that it’s time to move on.
1. Your doctor has a lot of repeat patients.
Skilled providers have the experience and knowledge to help patients get better. It’s natural to expect that your doctor has a high success rate with patients. Of course, certain health conditions can’t be cured and can only be monitored or the symptoms managed.
A big indicator that your doctor doesn’t know what he or she is doing is the number of repeat patients they have. Another red flag is if your doctor is eager to order tests every time you go for an appointment.
2. You butt heads with your doctor.
You should have a doctor whose bedside manner you get along with. Some doctors have a blunt and direct delivery of news and treatment recommendations while others have more of a compassionate, empathetic manner. You must have a doctor that you work well with. If you feel that you can never reach an agreement with your doctor or feel that your quality of care falls short, it’s time to shopping around for a new primary care provider.
The family of caregivers at the Healthcare Associates of Texas have a broad range of clinical experience that prepares them to deliver high-quality care to you and your family. Their skilled providers can provide non-emergency medical care services, chronic disease management, and ongoing wellness oversight. Their clinicians practice both family medicine and internal medicine and have the expertise to address your specific health concerns. The Healthcare Associates of Texas offer care services including primary care, specialized care, diagnostics, and mental health.
3. Your doctor makes you feel rushed.
The doctor’s office is notorious for long waits and delayed appointments. Most patients wait an average of 30 minutes to see their doctor, only to spend less than 15 minutes in a consultation. Medical doctors do see a lot of patients daily and they do maintain full schedules.
Your doctor should never make you feel rushed or like they are pressed for time to listen to you. A good doctor will take the time to sit and listen to you, allow you to finish your thoughts before interjecting, and respect the fact that your time matters, too.
4. Your doctor is late.
Any doctor’s office that makes you wait for an excessive amount of time then offers a speedy diagnosis to get you out the door isn’t a good fit. Delays can happen, especially if your doctor is on call for emergencies, but waiting for over 30 minutes is cause to reschedule the appointment. It’s not easy to find a doctor with zero tardies, but if your current doctor is habitually behind schedule, it’s time to find someone else.
COVID-19 has changed the way that patients receive medical care. Telehealth services make it safe and convenient to access your doctor from the comforts of home. Teletherapy and online counseling have allowed patients to maintain access to mental health professionals. Baltimore Therapy offers patients secure, confidential, face-to-face therapy via an online therapy platform.
Their online therapy services include individual therapy, couples counseling, and group therapy. Whether you need help with an anxiety disorder, suffer from severe mood changes, or are seeking cognitive behavioral therapy, a virtual therapist offers confidentiality and high-quality care that effectively addresses mental health issues.
5. Your doctor is eager to write prescriptions.
If your doctor is eager to prescribe medication to fix a problem instead of recommending effective lifestyle changes, it’s time to move on. A good doctor will always approach a diagnosis by recommending lifestyle modifications as a first treatment step. Many doctors have affiliations with drug company representatives and receive compensation for prescribing certain medications. Always be cautious of a doctor with a tendency to write prescriptions.
As you go through the seasons of your life, your body will undergo different changes. Women’s health requires a lot of attention and the body signals when something is going on. Not all women experience the same symptoms of menopause or the same severity.
Some of the most common menopause symptoms include headaches, hot flushes, insomnia, night sweats, weight gain, ovulation, vaginal dryness, and irregular periods. MenoLabs offers a perimenopause app that helps women track the stages of their menopause transition. Based on the symptoms of menopause and the triggers you are experiencing, the app offers personalized support to help you find relief.
These are some of the signs that your doctor isn’t the right fit for your health needs. It’s time to start looking for a new primary care physician if any of these signs apply.
