Article: Typically, a general practitioner serves as a primary care physician, but internal medicine doctors are also often able to provide primary care. If you require a certain type of special care for a particular disease or part of your body, check with local medical groups and hospitals to see if there is an internist there with whom you can work.  Internists typically specialize in a particular part of the body, such as the heart or kidneys, or in treating a certain type of medical complication, such as diabetes care. Internists are not surgeons. Instead, they work on diagnosis and treatment of medical conditions and complications through standard medical practices. Internists are often great choices for more complex conditions, such as chronic fatigue syndrome. Ask what different internists specialize in or take an interest in, and go with one that sub-specializes in something related to your specific condition. Pediatricians are specialists who work with children. If you are looking for a primary care physician for a child under the age of 14-16, finding a pediatrician is essential. Reviews and client testimonial are a helpful tool to gauge a doctor’s bedside manner. Look online at review sites as well as specialty sites like ZocDoc and Angie’s List to see what others have to say about their experience with a physician.  AngiesList.com provides reviews that factor in things like treatment effectiveness, punctuality, and friendliness. It’s important to find out whether or not the doctor listened to the patient. Look for comments specifically about the type of care someone received. Keep in mind that people are more likely to review what they consider to be negative experiences. Take comments like, “they kept me waiting past my appointment time,” lightly and instead look for indicators of malpractice or poor treatment of patients.  If you know anyone who has been to a physician personally, ask them about their experience. Let them know, “I’m thinking about seeing a new primary care physician. What has your experience been like with this doctor?” Large facilities have more doctors and more services. If you come in with a condition and your doctor is not sure what you have, they can ask for an instant second opinion. See if the hospital or office your potential doctor works at has an onsite lab, an onsite pharmacy, and an x-ray department. The more tests you can have done there, the more money you’ll save and the more efficient your doctor’s visits will be.

What is a summary?
Determine specialties. Check reviews. Go with a doctor that works in a large hospital or office.