Best Primary Care Physicians Near Me in San Angelo, TX | WebMD (2024)

FAQs

What kind of doctor is best for primary care? ›

You should consider a family physician or internal medicine specialist (internist) to serve as your PCP to provide overall management of your health care. You also may want to choose an obstetrician/gynecologist if you are a woman, or a pediatrician for your children.

Shortage of Primary Care Physicians

This shortage is attributed to various factors including an aging population (both patients and doctors are getting old), a growing emphasis on specialized medicine which draws physicians away from primary care, and fewer medical graduates choosing primary care as a field.

The Medical Board of California encourages consumers to check up on their doctor's license. Such a checkup is simple and helps a consumer make an informed choice when choosing a doctor.

While both focus on comprehensive care, family doctors tend to patients across all age demographics, from infants to the elderly, while PCPs specialize in adult medicine.

It's necessary to visit a primary care doctor for persistent illnesses or for close monitoring of a pre-existing condition. While a nurse practitioner can handle these issues, your primary care doctor may be more adept at analyzing your entire medical history to troubleshoot issues and create a treatment plan.

If your doctor doesn't make an effort to explain treatment options and tests in a way you can understand, it could be a sign that it's time to fire your doctor and find a physician who is better at communicating. Your health is too important to feel confused or uninformed. Next:5. Your doctor doesn't advocate for you.

Be Honest. Roter urges patients to be honest about worries and concerns. She calls this telling the “real deal.” “It's important to share things about your lifestyle, social obligations and relationships at home and at work,” she says.

Physician Burnout and Its Consequences

The factors contributing to burnout include ongoing physician shortages, system inefficiencies, administrative burdens, and increased regulatory and technology requirements (AMA, 2023).

Why is it so hard to see my primary care doctor? ›

There is a primary care physician shortage in the United States. This is one of the root causes of the problems. There aren't enough primary care doctors in the United States. One study reported that the percentage of physicians in primary care in the U.S. decreased to about 25%.

Also contributing to the shortage and the challenge to bring more doctors to our area, the Central Coast is considered a rural area which means doctors get lower reimbursem*nts compared to those in larger metropolitan areas like Los Angeles or San Francisco. That means lower pay for physicians. Dr.

Start by asking friends and family for recommendations, and then check online directories and reviews. Ensure you verify whether the doctor is in-network with your insurance and consider factors like location, office hours, and languages spoken.

If you detect that a doctor is indifferent or uncaring, it is best to steer clear. Warning signs of a bad attitude include being consistently cold, rude, or dismissive of your concerns. Good doctors are warm, interested, and engaged and will take the time to make you feel comfortable.

A primary care provider (PCP) is a health care practitioner who sees people that have common medical problems. This person is most often a doctor. However, a PCP may be a physician assistant or a nurse practitioner.

A primary care physician (PCP), or primary care provider, is a health care professional who practices general medicine. PCPs are our first stop for medical care.

DO stands for doctor of osteopathic medicine. They use the same conventional medical techniques as MDs but with a few other methods. DOs tend to focus more on holistic health and prevention. In holistic health, all parts of a person, including their mind, body, and emotions, are considered during the treatment.

Family physicians are trained to diagnose and treat an entire spectrum of medical issues for patients of all ages. “Family physicians have a broader scope,” Dr. Doggett explains.