How to Choose A Physician
We recommend that everyone have a primary care provider. This is the person who takes care of most of your healthcare needs. Your primary care provider should work closely with you to keep you healthy and reduce your chances of illness.
Your primary care provider can be a family practice physician, an internal medicine physician, or a pediatrician (for children 16 and under). You may also choose to see a physician assistant (P.A.) or nurse practitioner (N.P.) - qualified individuals who provide care under the direction of a physician. If you need a specialist, your primary care provider can refer you to one.
To find the primary care provider who is right for you and your family, we recommend:
- If your health plan is provided through your employer, ask your benefits coordinator at work for a directory of the physicians in your plan. Methodist First Choice is an area-wide network of over 500 quality physicians, from primary care providers to the area's leading specialists. You can use the Search feature of our website to select a provider based on such things as specialty and geographic location. Or you can call Methodist DocFinder at 877-64-MYDOC (877-646-9362) for referral to a family care doctor affiliated with Methodist. Methodist Medical Group physicians are committed to delivering outstanding healthcare that's centered on you. They participate in most major health plans including the First Choice and Caterpillar networks.
- Ask questions. Call the office where you would like to receive care and ask some key questions to help determine if the provider you are about to select is right for you:
- How many physicians are in the practice?
- What are your waiting times for routine care?
- Which hospitals are you affiliated with?
- How do I reach you after hours?
- What services are available in your office?
- What are your office hours?
- Does the physician operate out of multiple office locations?
- Find out if the physician is board-certified. This means he or she has practiced two to six years post-residency and has passed a difficult medical education test.
- Talk to your health plan provider. Their internal quality measures can often give you information available from patient satisfaction surveys.
- Ask your friends, co-workers and family for their recommendation.