Choosing a Primary Health Care Provider
Congratulations on taking the first step to care for your health! By looking for information on how to find a primary health care provider, you have made a very smart decision. Going to a primary health care provider is a very important part of taking care of yourself. If you are interested in finding a health care provider, but don't really know how to go about finding one, then this guide is for you. By the end of this guide, you should be ready to go out and find your own primary health care provider!
Click on the topic you are interested in:
Who Are Primary Health Care Providers/Why You Need One
How to Find a Health Care Provider
Health Plans and Health Care Providers
Qualifications of Health Care Providers
Deciding on One Health Care Provider
Reproductive Health and Health Care Providers
Don't Like Your Health Care Provider?
How Often You Should See Your Health Care Provider
Who Are Primary Health Care Providers/Why You Need One 
Why do I need a primary health care provider?
You need a primary health care provider so that your health can be checked regularly to catch any problem early so that it does not become worse. Your primary care provider can help you make smart choices to stay healthy. Your provider can talk with you about your health risks, such as smoking, alcohol, sex, seat belts, and nutrition and give you advice about treatments. If you have a serious or unusual medical problem, your provider can refer you to a specialist, someone who knows much more about that kind of problem.
Who are primary health care providers?
Primary health care providers can be physicians, nurse-practitioners, or physician's assistants. Nurse-practitioners and physician's assistants are trained to perform many parts of primary care.
Nurse-practitioners have to work with a physician in some states, and can work alone in others. They perform regular check-ups and help with your problems.
Physician's assistants must work with a physician, and often they are good primary care providers. Almost all physicians' assistants are trained by physicians and they have special licenses. There may be more time for counseling and questions.
Both nurse-practitioners and physician's assistants have some limits as to what they are allowed to do. Call the provider's office, and ask what the provider cannot do that a physician can do. See if the differences are important to you.
How to Find a Health Care Provider
What should I look for in a primary health care provider?
Decide if you want your health care provider to be a woman or a man. You should feel comfortable with your health care provider, since it is important to share personal information and any health problems with her/him. You need to find a health care provider who will listen to your concerns and answer your questions. Your health care provider should take the time to explain things clearly to you. You should try to find a health care provider who is not too far from your home.
What if I've turned 13 and I want a new provider that sees teenagers?
You should ask your pediatrician if there is someone in her/his office that sees teenagers or if there are special hours for teens to be seen in the office. If not, ask your pediatrician for names of other providers who see teens. Discuss with your pediatrician how to let your parents know about your health care needs.
How do I find the names of health care providers?
You should first make a list of names of health care providers. You can do this by asking your parents, friends, and relatives for the names of health care providers that they go to and like. Make sure that the person has gone to that health care provider more than once.
There are other ways to find a provider. You can check the "Physician Select" service of the Web Site of the American Medical Association, at www.ama-assn.org. You can call a doctor referral service at a hospital or a local medical society.
Health Plans and Health Care Providers
What if I belong to a health plan?
If you belong to a health plan, your choice of health care providers may be limited to providers that are part of the plan. Sometimes you can choose to see any provider. You should check the plan's list of health care providers. Ask friends or relatives who have the same plan as you for names of their health care providers that they like.
What if I don't belong to a health plan?
If you don't belong to a health plan, your choice of providers is much greater. You may want to first think about which provider you would like to use. Check on how much a typical office visit and lab tests cost. If it doesn't fit your budget, check on public health clinics, family planning clinics, and sliding scales and free care in hospital clinics.
Qualifications of Health Care Providers
Is there a way I can check on how qualified a provider is?
Yes, you have a few options. You can go by what your friends or relatives say. You can also call the provider's office and ask the office staff what the provider's credentials are. Every provider should be licensed to provide care by the state in which they work.
A way to find information on the quality of care of different providers is to go to the Web site www.docboard.org.
You can find out if a provider is board certified by calling The American Board of Medical Specialties at (800) 776-2378 or checking the Web site www.abms.org. "Certified" means that the provider has finished a training program in one area of medicine and has passed an exam (board) that tests her or his knowledge, skills and experience to provide quality care.
You can also call the American Medical Association at (800) 665-2882 or visit www.ama-assn.org to find information on the training of providers.
Deciding on One Health Care Provider
How do I decide on one primary health care provider?
Once you have made of list of qualified providers, you might want to try calling their offices and asking a few questions. The way that the staff answers your questions can say a lot about the provider. You first need to find out if the provider is covered by your health plan and if she/he is taking new patients. If you don't know if the provider is board certified or what their training is, ask!
Some other questions you might ask include:
The answers to these questions should help you decide which provider you want to handle your care. Once you like what you hear, make an appointment with that provider for a general check-up.
Check-Ups
Do I need to bring anything to my first check-up?
You should take a copy of your health records, including immunizations you have had, to your first check-up. You can get these records from your old provider or maybe from your school. Also, bring any medicines you are taking, or bring a list of those medicines. At your check-up, talk about any allergies or reactions that you have had to your medicines.
What will happen at my check-up?
Your primary care provider will ask you questions about your general health, such as headaches, sore throats, infections, and stomachaches. She/he will also ask you about your gynecologic history, such as when you started your menstrual periods, how often they occur, and whether you have ever had a sexual partner or sexual intercourse. She/he will also ask you about your health habits, such as if you smoke, drink, or use seat belts. You will also be asked about your nutrition, stress level, family history, and moods, such as depression. Check-ups will also include measuring your height, weight, and blood pressure. Your ears, eyes, throat, neck, heart, breasts, and abdomen will also be checked.
During your teen years, you'll get a diphtheria and tetanus shot booster (every 10 years), 3 hepatitis B shots, a booster of mumps, measles, and rubella (MMR), and a chickenpox shot (if you haven't had the disease). Before you travel abroad to countries in Latin America, Asia, or Africa, you should get the Hepatitis A vaccine. Before you start your freshman year in college, you should discuss with your health care provider about getting the meningococcal vaccine to lessen your risk of getting the very serious infection, meningitis (inflammation of the brain tissue).
What should I do at my first check-up?
Try to be open with your health care provider. You need to decide if you feel comfortable talking to and sharing information with your provider. You need to ask any questions that you may have. Write them down before your appointment so you don't forget! You might want to bring someone along to help you ask questions. See how well the provider answers your questions and listens to you. Are you happy with the provider at the end of your visit?
Asking About Confidentiality
How do I ask about confidentiality?
Before or at your first visit with your primary health care provider, ask about confidentiality. This is very important and can be hard to bring up. Ask if your health care provider will keep information private about your sexual history, contraception, and other worries. Discuss what your health care provider and you will do when there is something important, like a serious illness, depression, or life-threatening conditions, which should be shared with your parents or someone else. Start the discussion when you are 12 or 13 years old or at the first visit.
Practice some questions to ask your provider, such as:
Reproductive Health and Health Care Providers
Do all primary care providers also see adolescents and young women for reproductive health issues or Pap smears?
Some primary care providers do, but not all. You should discuss any reproductive health questions with your provider. If your provider does not see adolescents and young women for reproductive health issues, menstrual problems, contraception, pregnancy, or Pap smears, she/he will help you find someone that does. This might be a gynecologist or an adolescent medicine specialist in your community. If you are referred to a gynecologist, check to make sure she/he is an expert in providing care to teens. If it's important to you, make sure he/she provides confidential care (be prepared to ask those confidentiality questions again), contraception, and STD screening. You might also want to make sure that he/she gives impartial pregnancy counseling, meaning he/she gives you all the facts and discusses all of the issues so you can make an informed decision about what you want to do.
Don't Like Your Health Care Provider?
What if I don't like my primary health care provider?
Switch health care providers! You should go to a health care provider that you trust and you feel comfortable with. Your provider should be patient and should show you respect.
Go through the same steps listed above to find a new provider. Make a list of names, check on qualifications, and call the provider's office to ask questions. Remember to check to see if the new providers that you are thinking about are part of your health plan. You should let your current provider know that you are changing providers. Make sure that you get any medical records that your provider may have, so you can bring them to your new provider.
How Often Should You See Your Health Care Provider
How often should I see my primary health care provider?
You should see your primary health care provider once a year for a regular check-up and more often if you have other health problems or you are taking medication.
Women who are sexually active or are 18 years of age or older should have pelvic exams once a year. A Pap test should also be done to make sure that there are no warning signs of cancer of the cervix. (For more information see information sheet Your First Pelvic Exam).
Good luck in your search for a primary health care provider!
Updated 6/11/2001
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