Family Practice Associates of Lexington

Welcome

Welcome to Family Practice Associates of Lexington

Each year, millions of people seek medical care and most often, their entry into the health care system is through a visit with their Primary Care Physician (PCP). Primary care providers are specifically prepared for "first contact" and for supporting patients during their journey through the health care delivery system.

Family practitioners and internist/pediatricians (a combination of internal medicine and pediatrics) are trained to care for an entire family regardless of the age or gender of the family members. Primary care includes health promotion and maintenance, disease prevention and management, counseling and patient education, and diagnosis and treatment of acute and chronic conditions.

At Family Practice Associates of Lexington our mission is simple: to provide preventive, diagnostic, and therapeutic health services with attention to individual need. We are dedicated to giving family-centered care from birth to later years in an affordable, high quality manner.

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How to find the right doctor for you and your family…

Have you heard about the on-line site for hooking up patients with doctors? The patient sets up an on-line profile, noting what they want in a doctor, and then magically, a list of compatible doctors materializes!

Hold on, it is not quite that easy yet, but there are some approaches to help you find the right doctor for you and your family. The tried and true method for finding the right doctor is by “word of mouth”, that is “asking around” - relatives, friends, neighbors, coworkers and other people you trust. It is a good way to learn what your relatives, friends, neighbors, coworkers and others find appealing in a doctor, but are you looking for the same thing?

Let’s be more objective. WebMD Health News reported on a Mayo Clinic survey based on nearly 200 patients treated at the Mayo Clinic in Arizona and Minnesota from 2001 to 2002. Here is what the researchers spotted as “7 Key Traits of the Ideal Doctor” in no particular order.

Confident: “The doctor’s confidence gives me confidence.”
Empathetic: “The doctor tries to understand what I am feeling and experiencing, physically and emotionally, and communicates that understanding to me.”
Humane: “The doctor is caring, compassionate, and kind.”
Personal: “The doctor is interested in me more than just as a patient, interacts with me, and remembers me as an individual.”
Forthright: “The doctor tells me what I need to know in plain language and in a forthright manner.”
Respectful: “The doctor takes my input seriously and works with me.”
Thorough: “The doctor is conscientious and persistent.”

But is this truly objective? Patients tend to base how “right” their doctor is by judging personality or character traits – a more subjective measure, but nonetheless very important for a therapeutic relationship. Not only that, but, patients often do not possess the skills to judge technical know-how…they just know what they like.

However, there are fact-based ways to determine if a doctor is right for you and your family. Here are some questions to ask:

· Will the doctor treat all family members? Having a personal physician who knows you and your family’s medical history is a good thing – meaning they can treat each individual family member and yet be familiar with your family as a group. Having a family doctor also simplifies matters – there is no need to have a different specialist for each individual.

· Is the doctor covered by your health insurance plan? Always, an important consideration when it comes to your pocketbook. It’s always good to check directly with your health plan to verify participation.

· Does the doctor encourage preventive medicine? Family doctors are trained in maintaining your and your family’s good health, in addition to providing comprehensive medical care.

· Does the doctor have office hours and a location convenient for your family – particularly for those who work or attend school.

· Are “same-day” appointments available for acute illnesses or injuries? If your personal physician is not there, are there other providers to see you? Will they have access to your medical record?

· Are you interested in a solo physician or a group of providers? If the doctor is in solo practice, how are after-hours emergencies handled? Will someone always be available to answer your questions?

· What services are offered in the physician’s office? Typically, services provided through your primary care doctors are more affordable. Plus, there is the convenience of “one-stop shopping”. In a primary care physician practice look for on-site laboratory and xray services, bone density testing, minor surgical procedures, and ability to perform other tests such as EKG’s, pulmonary function testing, hearing and vision.

It is a good idea to check out the provider’s website, too. Often there will be provider profiles along with photo’s. Make sure the doctor is board-certified. Look at the website FAQ’s for how the practice operates. For instance, what do you do when a prescription refill is required? What is the best way to get a message to your provider and how will it be handled. When can you expect a callback? Look at the website content. Is patient education featured? Is there a secure patient portal to receive reports or send a message?

Thinking through the selection process in advance, knowing the questions and desired responses, will help you find the right doctor for you and your family. Be proactive – find a doctor and establish a relationship while in good health, to prevent those trips to the emergency department when you need immediate care.