Choosing a primary care physician can – and really, should – be a thoughtful and careful process. While we are often restricted in our choices based on insurance availability, if you can afford to be picky – be picky. Here are five basic questions you should ask before deciding to make a physician your primary one:

1) What are the doctor’s medical qualifications and experience?

Naturally, this should be the first question you ask – and if you only ask one, it should be this one. You can ask about special areas of expertise, how long they’ve been practicing, and whether they are board certified, which indicates that a physician has gone beyond basic licensing and met nationally-recognized standards. Typically, board certified physicians provide higher quality care. 

2) What insurance programs does the doctor accept?

This includes not only services provided by the doctor’s office itself, but also by the lab companies it uses, the hospitals to which the doctor may refer you, and other outsourced specialists with which they may have a partnership. It can be frustrating to have routine visits covered, but not lab work (for example.) 

3) What is the physician’s communication style and “bedside manner”?

It can be the difference between a rewarding and a totally negative experience if you and your doctor don’t communicate the same way. Does the doctor do well at providing all treatment options and helping you to understand the pros and cons of them all so you can make the decision? Or does he/she offer specific, targeted instructions for you (does he/she tell you what to do?) Which do you prefer? Finally, personality traits are key: is the doctor warm and comforting? Business-like and abrupt? Compassionate and empathetic? These are extremely important to evaluate before choosing someone to oversee your health.

4) How does the office handle cases when the doctor is not available?

Do they answer phone calls during office hours? In the case of a sudden illness or injury, are last-minute appointments available? Some physicians will refer you to a medical assistant or nurse practitioner; others are less accommodating. Be sure you know how well you will be treated by the entire care team.

5) Finally, how popular is the doctor?

Are appointments being booked weeks, or even months, out? How difficult is it to get face time with your doctor? If he/she is extraordinarily popular and well-rated, that’s a good sign about the quality of care, but it may be more of a headache if you have to compete for office time.