Your primary care doctor is the gateway to having all of your health care needs met. That’s why it’s incredibly important to choose the right physician. When making your selection, be sure that your doctor meets three key standards.

What to Look for in a Primary Care Doctor

1. Reputation & Credentials

You’ll want to know that your primary care physician is capable of doing their job effectively. After all, they’ll be responsible for administering care for a variety of ailments, diagnosing conditions and judging whether you need more in-depth treatment. Do your research before making your decision; investigate their educational background and licensing, and look around for patient reviews. Word-of-mouth recommendations are a powerful asset.

2. Good Listening Skills

Your primary care physician needs to be able to fully understand your symptoms to make decisions in your best interest. They should be able to quickly get to the heart of the matter and gather the information they need, without overlooking causes for concern or dismissing your experiences. A warm and friendly demeanor is also desirable to make communication go smoothly.

3. Connections to Specialists

If you have a complex or chronic condition, your doctor may need to refer you to a specialist for treatment. Because of this, it’s best to have a physician who has ties with many other doctors in a number of fields. This can often be accomplished by finding someone part of a larger health network, allowing them to make educated referrals quickly.

Are you seeking a primary care doctor on the Kenai Peninsula? Peninsula Community Health Services in Alaska is your community health center, offering a broad range of services to keep you and your family in good health. Their website offers a list of their providers with biographies. To schedule an appointment, call (907) 262-3119 for the Soldotna, AK, medical center or (907) 283-3600 for the Kenai, AK, clinic. You can visit Peninsula Community Health Services on Facebook.