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Choose a family physician
Some doctors don't have to look at a chart to know your name or how you are feeling.
The specialty of family practice is the current expression of the historical general physician. For thousands of years, generalists provided all medical care. He or she diagnosed and treated illnesses, performed surgery, and delivered babies.
Although internal medicine, pediatric, or family medicine physicians can provide primary care, more office-based physicians call themselves family physicians than any other type of physician, and Americans make more office visits to family physicians annually than to any other medical specialty.
Today's family physicians are trained to care for the whole person. They consider the physical, mental and emotional well-being of their patients and their families. They know how your family health history and situation can affect your health.
Although family physicians are trained in all major medical areas, they know you're not just a collection of symptoms or parts. They treat you as a whole person. Their practices include all ages, both sexes, each organ system, and every disease. They not only care for you across time, but also across all life stages. They act at times as advocates, interpreters, and investigators. They know when to treat you and when to refer you to a subspecialist whom they trust. They will also act as arbitrators and advisors in case of conflicting opinions by various subspecialties.
Family physicians are not only trained for all the major medical areas, but they are also specially trained in preventive medicine. They believe preventing a health problem is much better than having to treat an established one.
Family medicine was the first specialty to require recertification, and they still recertify more than any other specialty. This means that you don't need to worry about whether your physician is up-to-date if he or she is a family physician.
Begin your search when you are well
The time to look for your family physician is before you need one. This gives you the chance to take your time, ask the right questions, and do the necessary research without the urgency of an illness. You should take this chance to meet with the family physician, before illness strikes, to discuss your medical history and that of your family.
Make a list of candidates
The best method for finding a family physician is word of mouth. Ask your friends, relatives and co-workers about their personal experiences with their family physicians. This is a good way to get first-hand knowledge of a family physician's quality of care and to help steer you in the right direction. Asking people you may know in the medical field will give another perspective on a family physician.
Key questions
What qualities in a family physician are important to you and are needed most by your family? Here are a few good questions to consider during your search:
Is the doctor board-certified?
Does the doctor accept your insurance?
Is the doctor's office conveniently located?
Can you see the doctor the same day in an urgent situation?
What are the doctor's office hours?
How long does it take to schedule routine and wellness exams?
Does the office send courtesy reminders for annual appointments?
Is the doctor open to alternative medicine choices?
Does the doctor also have a hospital practice to care for you if you need to be hospitalized?
Does the doctor offer outpatient laboratory and x-ray services?
The more you know ahead of time about the family physician's office practices, the better your chance of finding a good match easily.
After the visit
While at the family physician's office, determine if you feel comfortable in the office, with its procedures and with the doctor himself or herself.
Was the receptionist friendly and helpful?
Was it easy to make an appointment?
Were the billing and insurance procedures explained to you?
How long was your wait to see the doctor?
A good family physician takes time with you.
Did he or she listen to you?
Did he or she give you a chance to ask questions?
Did the physician answer questions in terms you understood?
Did the family physician spend enough time with you, or did you feel rushed?
Were you treated with respect?
Did the doctor talk to you about healthy lifestyle choices, disease prevention, and screening tests you might need?
Do you feel you can trust your doctor and speak openly with him or her about your health issues?
Your family physician's convenient office location and convenient office hours are important, but nothing is more important than your health. Family physicians help you make the right health choices for you and your family. Today's family physician specializes in all of you.
Things to remember
1. Selecting a family physician is the single most important decision you make to ensure you receive the highest quality health care.
2. A family physician should be someone who will help you establish and achieve your long-term health goals, while treating any acute illness along the way.
3. Word of mouth is a wonderful way to find out about family physicians you may be considering; ask family, friends, and co-workers about their family physicians.
4. Selecting a family physician whose office is convenient to work or home can be important in a long-term physician/patient relationship.
5. Your family physician should be someone you're comfortable talking with.
The specialty of family practice is the current expression of the historical general physician. For thousands of years, generalists provided all medical care. He or she diagnosed and treated illnesses, performed surgery, and delivered babies.
Although internal medicine, pediatric, or family medicine physicians can provide primary care, more office-based physicians call themselves family physicians than any other type of physician, and Americans make more office visits to family physicians annually than to any other medical specialty.
Today's family physicians are trained to care for the whole person. They consider the physical, mental and emotional well-being of their patients and their families. They know how your family health history and situation can affect your health.
Although family physicians are trained in all major medical areas, they know you're not just a collection of symptoms or parts. They treat you as a whole person. Their practices include all ages, both sexes, each organ system, and every disease. They not only care for you across time, but also across all life stages. They act at times as advocates, interpreters, and investigators. They know when to treat you and when to refer you to a subspecialist whom they trust. They will also act as arbitrators and advisors in case of conflicting opinions by various subspecialties.
Family physicians are not only trained for all the major medical areas, but they are also specially trained in preventive medicine. They believe preventing a health problem is much better than having to treat an established one.
Family medicine was the first specialty to require recertification, and they still recertify more than any other specialty. This means that you don't need to worry about whether your physician is up-to-date if he or she is a family physician.
Begin your search when you are well
The time to look for your family physician is before you need one. This gives you the chance to take your time, ask the right questions, and do the necessary research without the urgency of an illness. You should take this chance to meet with the family physician, before illness strikes, to discuss your medical history and that of your family.
Make a list of candidates
The best method for finding a family physician is word of mouth. Ask your friends, relatives and co-workers about their personal experiences with their family physicians. This is a good way to get first-hand knowledge of a family physician's quality of care and to help steer you in the right direction. Asking people you may know in the medical field will give another perspective on a family physician.
Key questions
What qualities in a family physician are important to you and are needed most by your family? Here are a few good questions to consider during your search:
Is the doctor board-certified?
Does the doctor accept your insurance?
Is the doctor's office conveniently located?
Can you see the doctor the same day in an urgent situation?
What are the doctor's office hours?
How long does it take to schedule routine and wellness exams?
Does the office send courtesy reminders for annual appointments?
Is the doctor open to alternative medicine choices?
Does the doctor also have a hospital practice to care for you if you need to be hospitalized?
Does the doctor offer outpatient laboratory and x-ray services?
The more you know ahead of time about the family physician's office practices, the better your chance of finding a good match easily.
After the visit
While at the family physician's office, determine if you feel comfortable in the office, with its procedures and with the doctor himself or herself.
Was the receptionist friendly and helpful?
Was it easy to make an appointment?
Were the billing and insurance procedures explained to you?
How long was your wait to see the doctor?
A good family physician takes time with you.
Did he or she listen to you?
Did he or she give you a chance to ask questions?
Did the physician answer questions in terms you understood?
Did the family physician spend enough time with you, or did you feel rushed?
Were you treated with respect?
Did the doctor talk to you about healthy lifestyle choices, disease prevention, and screening tests you might need?
Do you feel you can trust your doctor and speak openly with him or her about your health issues?
Your family physician's convenient office location and convenient office hours are important, but nothing is more important than your health. Family physicians help you make the right health choices for you and your family. Today's family physician specializes in all of you.
Things to remember
1. Selecting a family physician is the single most important decision you make to ensure you receive the highest quality health care.
2. A family physician should be someone who will help you establish and achieve your long-term health goals, while treating any acute illness along the way.
3. Word of mouth is a wonderful way to find out about family physicians you may be considering; ask family, friends, and co-workers about their family physicians.
4. Selecting a family physician whose office is convenient to work or home can be important in a long-term physician/patient relationship.
5. Your family physician should be someone you're comfortable talking with.
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Reader Comments
The following are comments from the readers. In no way do they represent the view of theclaytontribune.com.
Patricia wrote on Jan 16, 2008 3:46 PM:
" Larry Bennett at Dr. Penningtons office in Dillard is a fine doctor. I like it when a doctor has time to ask your problems and sit and explain things. I have known other doctors and offices to think of you as just a patient and not an actual person, get you back and get you out. Not Dr. Bennett; he is a great doctor. I recomend him to everyone, young or old. "
bonnie hearing wrote on Feb 29, 2008 3:51 AM:
" My husband and I are tatally convinced that Dr. Pullium in Dillard is without the best physicians in Rabun County and probably many other counties. He is so courteous and concerned with your illness that he spends as much time as needed with you. I hope more Rabun County residents will give him a try. "
bonnie wrote on Nov 29, 2008 4:14 PM:
" It is so sad that a good, intelligent doctor like Dr. Pullium is having to leave because the hospital does not have the integrity to know a good thing when they get one. It is a disgrace to the people of Rabun County for the hospital to let us lose such a loyal and trusted family doctor. Shame on the hospital! "
facts wrote on Dec 10, 2008 2:05 PM:
" Dr Pullium is a wonderful doctor and man and he probably is glad to be leaving rabun county and will be glad not to be associated with the sorry healthcare system we have here as far as association with the local hospital.. medlink has a wonderful staff but its hard to get in because they have so many patients. "
carlton wrote on Jun 25, 2009 2:50 PM:
" I'm almost certain that Larry Bennett is a P.A (Physician's Assistant) not a doctor. As for the choosing a good doctor in Rabun County, I have always had pleasant and outstanding care under Dr. Kathy Easterling (M.D). Dr. E (as I call her) is one of the most professional and caring physicians I have ever used. Also, I would like to note that it is also important to look at the type of doctor you are choosing, either a D.O or a M.D - sometimes I feel that the general public is not aware of the difference in these two doctors, which is mainly a difference in philosophy of medicine. Though I normally use an M.D., I'm intrigued and passionate about the D.O philosophy, though I can only think of one in Rabun County.
Happy Health! "
Happy Health! "
Louise wrote on Nov 18, 2009 9:01 PM:
" My Mom and Dad have been patients of Dr Findley for over 20years. They would never think of going anywhere else. He will not hesitate to refer them to a specialist....and doesn't let ego bother him. My parents have great faith in him and always talk about seeing "Doc Findley". Thank-you Dr,Findley "
Anita Chivses wrote on Jan 31, 2010 2:32 AM:
" I was born and raised in Rabun Co. I "DO NOT" have a "so-called" family doctor since the retirement of (the best family-practice)Dr. George King. This was a Doctor! A Doctor with the knowledge & compassion for his patients! In my opinion as well as others i'm sure. I am looking for that "special" something in a dr. that Dr.King had...Until then Me, Myself,& the rest of my family will have to go on with the physicians that try to fill a great Dr.s Shoes.Don't get me wrong: they are fine Dr.'s. But no-one could ever fill "The Kings" shoes! "
unknown wrote on Jan 11, 2008 2:27 PM: