Bailey Wiltshire The first step in understanding how to choose a black primary care physician is understanding the role of primary care physicians. Black primary care physicians are doctors who specialize in taking care of people from birth through old age. They provide preventive health services and help manage chronic illnesses. They also diagnose and treat common illnesses, such as colds and flu.
Choosing a doctor is a very personal decision. You want a doctor who’s compassionate, knowledgeable, and easy to talk to. And someone who’s willing to take the time needed to answer all your questions — especially if you’re new to the healthcare system. But how do you find such a doctor?
If you are a black person, you should be able to find a black primary care doctor Atlanta who understands your culture and language.
Several Factors That Go Into Choosing A Black Primary Care Doctor
The most important ones are:
-
- Do some research online. Search for “black doctors” or “African-American doctors” in your area and see what comes up. You can also check with local hospitals and medical schools to find out who is practicing in your area and what kind of experience they have.
- Your insurance. You’ll want to know if your insurance plan covers visits with providers of a certain race or ethnicity. If it does, you should find out which doctors are in-network for your plan.
- Your health needs. If you’re looking for a black primary care doctor because you need someone who can speak to your specific health needs as an African American, consider asking friends and family members to recommend someone they’ve seen in the past. Alternatively, look up local organizations that focus on minority healthcare issues and ask them if they know of any black primary care doctor Atlanta who may be able to help you out.
- Your comfort level with other patients in the waiting room. If you’re not comfortable going into a waiting room full of people who look different from you, that’s something worth considering when choosing where to go for medical care. Some healthcare providers will accommodate requests for private rooms during appointments; others won’t allow it at all. Ask your potential black primary care physician about this before making an appointment so that there are no surprises once it’s time to go see him or her!
- Waiting time. If you’re in pain or need immediate attention, waiting several weeks to see a doctor can be frustrating. Ask how long it takes to get an appointment with this doctor and whether you can schedule same-day appointments if necessary.
- Their specialty. If you have a specific condition that requires special treatment, make sure the doctor has experience diagnosing and treating it. For example, if you have diabetes, look for an endocrinologist rather than a family practitioner. Or, if your child has allergies or asthma, find an allergist/immunologist who can treat those conditions specifically.
- Location. If you live in an area with many medical providers, such as an urban area or a large town, then the location may not be as important for you as it is for someone who lives in a rural community with fewer black primary care physicians.
- Hours of operation and after-hours availability. Many times this will depend on what type of practice your doctor has (e.g., solo practitioner vs group practice). It’s also important to consider if your black primary care doctor Atlanta has any restrictions on how often he or she can see patients outside of normal business hours (see below).
- His/her credentials. Look for board certification from the American Board of Medical Specialties (abms.org) or other specialty boards; this means that the doctor has met certain standards of training and education set by his or her specialty’s professional organization.
- Does he/she treat all ages? If you’re young or old, make sure your black primary care physician will take care of you no matter what stage of life you’re in — especially if there’s a chance that any health problems may be related to age-related changes (such as high blood pressure in older people).
- Whether you want a male or female doctor, while there’s no research showing that one gender is better than another in medicine, some people prefer black primary care physicians of a certain gender based on their own comfort level with that group. For example, some women may feel more comfortable with female doctors, while some men may feel more comfortable with male doctors.
- Make sure that your doctor’s office has staff that speaks your language. Language barriers can often cause miscommunication between patients and doctors, resulting in improper treatment or, worse yet, no treatment.
- How long has their practice been open? Who would you choose if you had a choice between two black primary care physicians, one who has been practicing for 15 years and another who just opened up shop? More experience means more knowledge and more time to treat patients.
- Do they listen carefully when I talk about my health issues? This is an important question because it shows that the doctor is interested in hearing what you have to say. A good black primary care doctor Atlanta will listen carefully during each visit and ask relevant questions based on what you tell them so that they can best meet your needs.
- How much does it cost: Setting up an annual physical for a well-child visit costs between $50 and $150 in most communities, but if you need specific tests or x-rays done during this visit, it may cost more. Ask what services are included in the annual physical so that you don’t get surprised by a bill later on.
Conclusion:
It’s a hard choice to make and an even harder one to face. Finding a good black primary care physician is never easy, but it’s especially hard when you’re dealing with the levels of stress and anxiety that many black patients feel while searching for primary care physicians. That’s why we decided to write this guide, so patients like you can easily find the right doctor for you.
