Health & Fitness
How to find the right doctor for your family
Dr. Richard Finegold is a board certified internal medicine physician with Elmhurst Clinic at 172 Schiller St. in Elmhurst.
Finding a new physician can be downright daunting. Where do you start?
Your first decision is what type of primary care physician (PCP) to choose. If you want one doctor for everyone in the family and you have kids, a family practice physician may be the right choice. Some women use an obstetrician/gynecologist for some or all of their primary care.
Others prefer choosing a pediatrician for their kids and an internist for the adults in the family. Doctors of internal medicine have special training in prevention and treatment of adult diseases.
Find out what's happening in Elmhurstfor free with the latest updates from Patch.
“Your family’s medical needs may be as simple as regular physicals,” says Richard Finegold, MD, a board certified internal medicine physician with Elmhurst Clinic. “Or they may be as difficult as needing coordination of specialists during a serious illness.”
Once you’ve chosen the type of PCP, you’re ready to search for the doctor who best fits the needs of you and your family.
Find out what's happening in Elmhurstfor free with the latest updates from Patch.
Select physicians who are conveniently located and affiliated with the hospital of your choice. Start by calling the hospital’s physician referral department, talking to friends and neighbors or checking one of the online physician directories offered by various medical associations.
Call the offices of your one or two “finalists” with any questions:
--Is the doctor accepting new patients and is care covered by your insurance?
--If a family member has a special health problem, does the physician have experience in this area?
--Is it difficult to get an appointment?
--What are the practice’s hours and typical wait times?
Request an appointment to “get acquainted” with the physician. Decide if you’re comfortable with this particular doctor and his/her communication style.
Spending this much time and effort is important. Making the right choice of a primary care physician can pay benefits for years to come.
Dr. Finegold’s Elmhurst Clinic office is located at 172 Schiller St. in Elmhurst. For more information, call (331) 221-9001 or visit www.EEHealth.org/ElmhurstClinic.
