Finding the right general practitioner is important. If you plan on using the same GP over and over again, you want to find one that you feel comfortable with and have no difficulty talking over your problems and health issues. It’s about feeling like you can be open and honest and that you have trust and a rapport with your doctor.
It’s worth taking the time to find the right GP for you so, how do you go about doing that? What should you look for and how can you determine if they’re a good doctor or not? When it comes to GP recruitment, Australia boasts a large selection of qualified GPs to choose from, so it’s vital to make the right choice.
Table of Contents
Personal Recommendations Can Really Help
With so many doctors getting general practice jobs, a good way to find a doctor who knows their stuff and you can trust is to seek personal recommendations from the people you know. Whether it’s friends, work colleagues or family members, chances are that someone in your circle can recommend a good local GP to you.
If you can convey what you’re hoping to find in a doctor, people in your network will know whether their GP sounds like the right fit for you or not.
Search Online for Recommendations
First off, you could do a general web search for GPs in your local area. Once you’ve compiled a list, check out their websites and then see if you can dig up any information on them online. Search for independent reviews and testimonials on either a specific doctor or the clinic or medical centre in general.
If you find a lot of people are making positive comments about a particular doctor, then that’s a good sign they could be the right GP for you.
A Large Or Small Practice?
This is likely more a matter of personal preference. Some people like a smaller practice with less staff and with a more homely and familiar feel to the place. The downside to some smaller practices is that their opening hours are generally shorter than that of larger clinics and medical centres. Some larger practices may even operate 24 hours a day, 7 days per week.
If opening hours are important, then make a note of what hours the practice operates, particularly for small clinics. You want to know you’ll be able to see your doctor during the hours that suit you. With so many GP jobs in Australia, you’re sure to find a practice near you that suits your requirements.
What About Their Billing and Payment Options?
Another consideration is the costs involved in seeing a certain doctor who works out of a particular practice. Are their prices for a standard consultation reasonable or too high? Also, what payment options are available? Do they offer bulk billing or have any payment plan options for more detailed and ongoing medical care?
It’s worth keeping in mind that some practices that bulk bill will try to move patients through quickly. It’s not always the case, but if you want your doctor to not be in a rush, you might want to consider a practice that doesn’t bulk bill.
Try An Initial Consultation
You can only discover so much about a doctor through word of mouth recommendations and your own research. Ultimately, the very best way to determine if a GP is going to be the right one is to book in for an initial consultation.
You don’t even have to have an illness or medical condition to do this. Just show up for a general health check so you can meet the GP face to face and see if you feel comfortable with them.
After the first visit, you’ll come away with a fair idea of whether you want to make that GP your regular doctor or not.
In Conclusion
If you want to find a regular doctor whom you feel very comfortable with, one with the right accreditation and who cares about your welfare, it’s worth spending a bit of time doing some research, as well as seeking the opinions and recommendations of the people you know. There are numerous benefits to having a good GP, so find the right one for you.
