Choosing a medical centre for your family is an important decision. It will be your go-to place when your children get sick, and for any of your gripes and aches as you grow older. It is vital that you find a place that makes you and your family feel safe and comfortable. Below are four important things to consider when finding your new family medical centre.
Make sure it’s clean
This may seem like an ironic point, considering most people equate doctors with health. But if you think about the amount of people and their germs that pass through those doors each day, and couple that with the many tests and procedures these patients are undergoing, you might start to feel a bit squeamish about touching the door handles and rifling through the clinic magazine stash. You want a centre that is cleaned regularly with hospital-grade cleaning processes. Ask the practice how frequently the space is cleaned, and who does it. If they don’t name a professional cleaning service like AMC Commercial Cleaning , walk away and keep looking.
Make sure they aren’t overloaded
The last thing you want is to join a practice that already has hundreds and hundreds of other patients. It can be hard going finding somewhere without a huge list of patients already, but it’s worth finding out, as it could mean you will face a hefty wait just for a basic consultation. Try and find somewhere with either a large number of doctors working there, or a smaller suburban clinic. These are your best bets for getting a quick appointment.
Make sure your doctor specialises in a relevant field
Even General Practitioners (GPs) have specialty areas these days, so when you are looking at which family medical centre to choose, look at focus areas of the doctors available to suit your needs. If you have a young family, you probably won’t need a GP specialising in geriatric care, just as your boys won’t need a GP specialising in women’s health as they grow older. Find someone who is a great match for all your family members. If you are having trouble finding one GP for that, then make sure the centre has a range of GPs that would be suitable, so you don’t have to pick just one doctor.
Make sure they won’t take an arm and a leg for payment
Even with health insurance, a visit to your local family doctor can be expensive. Shop around for prices, and make sure you won’t be sending yourself into debt each time you need a prescription filled. Find a centre that offers private health rebates, or discounts for a family consult. Don’t be too stingy, though. Just because they’re cheap doesn’t mean they’re a good fit for your family.
These are just a few things to keep in mind when you are on the hunt for the perfect family medical centre. What did you look for when you chose your family doctor?