Living In USA

For general medical care, most people's primary doctor is a family practice specialist — someone who will provide routine care for all members of the family and who can refer you to other kinds of specialists when necessary. There are two kinds of specialists who are often contacted immediately — a pediatrician if there is a young child in the family and a gynecologist for adolescent girls and women. Many general practitioners, however, are qualified and experienced in treating children and gynecological matters.

There are numerous medical groups that give patients access to a number of doctors rather than one. They emphasize family practice — taking care of all the medical needs of family members in one place and providing service at all times with one or another of the group members available on call. Many of these groups are referred to as health maintenance organizations, or HMOs. Some are attached to hospitals, but most are independent, and the physicians have privileges at local hospitals. Most HMOs have listings of doctors in your area who are members, and a few HMOs combine health insurance and health care into one organization.

How do you go about finding a reliable doctor? Physicians are listed in the classified telephone directory (often called the Yellow Pages), and many even advertise their services, but people usually find doctors by asking friends and acquaintances about their experiences with medical care. There are a variety of ways to search. Your company may advise you. Often there is a company doctor or an arrangement with a medical group, which is a great help. Perhaps you can ask your neighbors, or the person from whom you rent your apartment, or the head of your child's school. The officer at the bank or someone at your church, mosque, or synagogue may also give you advice. Your own consulate may have a list of doctors who speak your language.

Don't necessarily accept the first physician suggested. People have different needs. Most physicians are very well trained in the United States, so you rarely have to worry about technical competence. Probably the most important consideration, and one you can judge easily, is personality. You will want to find someone who is easy to talk with and in whom you have confidence. You may also want to inquire about costs if that is important to you.

If it is difficult to obtain a personal recommendation from someone you know, call the County Medical Society or the Physician Referral Service in your area. These offices can either provide a list of physicians or tell you where you can get this information. You can also call the administrator's office at the nearest hospital and ask for the names and office addresses of doctors with privileges at their hospital. This way you will find well-trained doctors with nearby hospital affiliations. Neither the hospital nor the County Medical Society will recommend one doctor; they will always provide several names. When you have been given the names and telephone numbers of several doctors, make an appointment with one of them. Take your family's health records and ask about fees, hospital connections, and anything else you want to know. If the doctor's experience, medical training, and personality seem right to you, you will probably want to become a regular patient and return whenever necessary. If not, you may want to look for another doctor.

Many doctors have so many regular patients that they will not accept new ones. Simply keep trying until you find one who is able to accommodate you as a patient. Don't feel shy about discussing fees when you first make these contacts. They can vary, and it is better to know in advance the approximate fees any given physician is likely to charge. Medical care is extremely expensive in the United States, and it is important to know what costs to expect.