Choosing a Primary Care Physician in Atlanta

The Atlanta Metropolitan area is one of the busiest and most populous in the country. Being a resident of Atlanta is full of challenges as well as rewards. Your health is a valuable resource which, despite our busy schedules, must be maintained. Primary care has a crucial role to play when it comes to maintaining the best possible state of health. We have composed a few pointers to help you in your search for a Primary Care Physician.

Creating a relationship with a primary care physician is a long-term investment for your ultimate health and well-being. It is important to take certain factors into consideration when making your choice.

Practice Philosophy & Compatibility

You will be most successful if you choose a physician whose values and philosophy are compatible with your own. You will be more inclined to trust your physician's recommendations if their general outlook on medicine lines up with your preferences. It is essential that you feel comfortable to communicate freely with your physician without fear of judgement as this will promote a strong bond between you and your physician.

Reputation

Thanks to sources such as Google and Yelp, it is easier than ever to gain insight to a physician's reputation by reading reviews. Referrals from trusted sources such as friends, family members or even other doctors are also very useful when selecting a primary care physician. You’ll feel more comfortable seeing a physician who has had a positive impact on the health of someone you know personally.

Skill Level

When considering skill level, you should take into account the physician's experience, quality of training. It is also imperative that you choose a physician who is Board Certified in their field. Board certified physicians undergo additional steps to ensure that they are experts in their field. By seeing a board-certified physician, you can be sure that your physician is being held to the highest standards of quality and education. It is important to note that all physicians must be licensed in the state that they practice, however, not all licensed physicians are board certified.

Accessibility

It won't do you any good if you find your dream physician but they are unable to make time for you! You should find out if the physician is currently accepting new patients and also find out how long it typically takes to get an appointment. You should also inquire as to whether or not the physician keeps a few appointment slots available for urgent issues.

Technology

Technology has certainly expanded our horizons in so many areas of life. Healthcare is no exception. Use of electronic medical records helps to make recording medical data more accurate and also makes communicating information faster and more convenient. Another area where technology makes medicine more convenient is in the area of Telemedicine or virtual visits. Through telemedicine, patients can gain access to their physician remotely from virtually anywhere! Not all physicians offer this technology so it is important to carefully choose a physician who is up to speed with the latest technology.

We hope that the above tips will help you in your quest to find a top-notch Primary care physician. At Guardian Physicians, we pride ourselves in providing the ultimate patient experience by providing care that is guided by quality and compassion. We look serving you and the Atlanta community in the near future!