Having a provider that you trust and connect with is a must, especially for older adults. Your primary care doctor is your go-to for all things related to your health. They not only get you healthy, but they also help to keep you healthy and out of the hospital.
Are you completely happy with your PCP? If you have to stop and think, you may want to consider whether it may be time to find a new primary care provider. Here are a few top reasons you may need to find a new doctor.
Your Doctor Has Retired or Moved to a Different Clinic
Unfortunately, this is out of your control and isn’t dependent on whether you are happy with your provider or not. However, if you’ve been with your provider for many years, there is a good chance that retirement is a possibility.
Many doctors considering retirement will inform their patients ahead of time so they have the necessary time to find a new primary care physician of their liking. However, most of the time, patients aren’t left without a designated doctor. Most retiring providers will pass their panels off to another physician in the area or within the same practice.
Back in the day, most providers stayed in private practice for decades. However, today, many physicians are becoming employed by hospitals or large medical groups. Depending on where your physician goes and if you’re happy with them, you may have the opportunity to follow them wherever they end up, but if that’s not a possibility, you will need to start looking for a new PCP.
Your Doctor Doesn’t Listen to You
According to the American Medical Association, 63 percent of physicians experience some sort of burnout. Unfortunately, this often leads to them providing low-quality care, including no longer truly listening to you or your concerns. This is a big reason why you would need to find a new doctor.
Your health is a team effort. And you need a physician who takes the necessary time to listen to you and care for you. At VIPcare, patients are never rushed. Most appointments take at least 45 minutes and can last up to an hour. This is because we believe in taking the much-needed time to truly listen to what our patients have to say. Your appointment will never be over as long as you still have concerns to be addressed and questions to be answered.
Your Doctor Doesn’t Specialize in Senior-Focused Care
We have doctors that specialize in different areas and types of medicine for a reason. For example, you wouldn’t go to a pediatrician for arthritis or age-related back pain. As a senior, you have specific needs that are unique to your age. On top of that, providers who specialize in senior-focused care tend to be more compassionate toward older adults. They aren’t as quick to write off symptoms as just a sign of old age. VIPcare providers are skilled and trained to treat the senior population and their specific needs, such as chronic conditions, and because of that, patients receive better and more personalized care.
Don’t Settle for Less
Ending relationships is hard, even one as platonic as the patient-doctor relationship. But you should never settle for anything less than what you deserve. And you deserve great healthcare and a provider who is part of your team.
If you’re unhappy with your provider, it’s time to find a new doctor. Schedule an appointment with a VIPcare provider near you and find out what makes us so different. At VIPcare, you and your health are our priority. Start receiving the specialized, quality care you deserve. If you’re afraid it’s too much work, don’t be. Changing providers is quick and hassle-free. We’re there for you every step of the way.