Are you looking for a new primary care physician (PCP)? If you’ve started looking, you’re probably a little overwhelmed with the choices. Just reviewing your health plan or searching online, you’ll find there are hundreds of doctors. If you’ve searched for primary care in North Bethesda, Bethesda, Rockville, and the surrounding area, you may also have run across numerous specialties that provide these services. Which specialist is right for you?
To answer that question, you should decide what is important to you. Your primary care doctor will be your closest ally – your “go-to” not only when you’re sick, but also when you are making decisions about your overall health.
Most people would agree that finding quality health care is very important. When choosing a primary care doctor, you need to know what to look for in order to receive the best healthcare service to keep you healthy for a lifetime. Ideally, you will find a doctor who believes in a personalized and meaningful relationship with patients – one who not only is board-certified in providing medical care for someone like you, but also one who has a philosophy of care that centers on compassion, in treating the individual, in involving the patient in the decisions that will affect their health, and in utilizing the latest evidence to make sound medical recommendations.
What It Takes to Be the Best Primary Care Doctor
The best kind of primary care physician is one who is not only an expert in preventive medicine and in the diagnosis and treatment of disease, but is also committed to getting to know the unique personality and circumstances of each patient. This doctor will ultimately be your partner in health, so you want a physician who cares about you.
Comprehensive Healthcare
A primary care doctor provides a wide variety of preventive care, including:
- Regular physical exams
- Screenings, such as urinalysis and blood work
- Immunizations to protect you from infectious diseases
- Treatment for acute illnesses or injuries
- Management of chronic conditions, such as asthma, high blood pressure, or diabetes
Primary care doctors are not only trained experts in the diagnosis and treatment of a broad range of health conditions, but they will also refer you to sub-specialists (e.g., cardiologist, gastroenterologist, etc.) when necessary. As your needs become more complex, your primary care doctor will coordinate your care, communicating with your sub-specialists and making sure your needs are being met.
Primary Care Should Meet Your Specific Needs
If you have started researching primary care providers, you have probably seen a number of different types of specialists that provide this kind of care.
All primary care doctors are experts in providing medical care to a specific population. Pediatricians treat babies and children. Geriatricians see adults who are 65 and older. Anyone from birth to the golden years may see a family medicine doctor as his/her primary care provider. Doctors who specialize in internal medicine have had training in the diagnosis, treatment, and prevention of medical conditions in adults.
If you are 18 years or older, there is a great advantage to seeing an internal medicine specialist for primary care. Looking for the best primary care doctor for you means finding one who has the expertise to address all your healthcare needs – one who minimizes your need to turn anywhere else for medical care. Internists have specialized education and training not only to support your health through health promotion and disease prevention, but also to treat any medical problems that adults may face.
These doctors are exceptionally skilled in diagnosing and treating even the most challenging of diseases. If you need a sub-specialist, the internist will refer you, but odds are that he/she will be able to manage most of your problems without referrals.
Physician Access All Day and All Night
Perhaps the most important qualification in your search for the best primary care doctor is access to your doctor when you need him/her. Illness does not stick to a 9-to-5 schedule, and when you don’t feel well, there are comfort and reassurance in knowing that your doctor will be there for you.
Many primary care offices have a large patient base and multiple practitioners who take rotating calls. Your annual physical may therefore be the only time you see your primary care doctor; when you call in after hours, you may often find yourself talking to a stranger. However, there is an alternative that offers the best-case scenario: concierge medicine.
A concierge medical practice is one in which your membership gives you 24/7 access to your doctor, same-day appointments, and visits that last as long as it takes to address your needs. No more waiting for days to see your doctor for just five minutes.
Concierge Primary Care in North Bethesda, Bethesda, and Rockville, MD
As a primary care provider and internal medicine specialist serving North Bethesda, Bethesda, and Rockville, Dr. Adam Possner not only diagnoses and treats a broad range of acute and chronic medical conditions but also specializes in preventive care. He believes in partnering with his patients and their families in creating a plan to help them live their healthiest lives.
As a concierge medical practice, North Bethesda Primary Care doesn’t charge insurance. Rather, patients pay an annual membership fee, which includes year-round visits, round-the-clock access for urgent medical issues, appointments at your convenience, and personalized medical care.
By limiting his practice size, Dr. Possner has the flexibility to spend more time getting to know you and addressing any and all of your specific medical concerns.
If you have any questions or would like to schedule a complimentary consultation with Dr. Possner, please contact our friendly staff today.
