Questions to Ask When Looking for a New Phoenix-Area Doctor

Our Phoenix Walk-In Clinic Doctors Can Be Your Next Family Provider

When you are in the market for a new doctor, there are questions you should ask to make sure it’s the right move for you and your family. Many families that look for new doctors in the Phoenix area are required to do so as part of changing insurance providers. Few medical providers in Arizona offer patients the ability to have a sneak peek of their clinic before the onboarding process. Becoming a new patient often involves lengthy forms and being on a waiting list for the initial visit.

That is how Phoenix Family Medical Clinic is different. We are a walk-in clinic that accepts many insurance plans as well as uninsured patients. We do not hold you to a contract or a lengthy new-patient waiting list. You can try out our five clinics throughout the Phoenix metropolitan area and conveniently see a doctor near you. If you like what you see, we would love to have you as part of our patient list! If you are in the market for a new family provider, here are some questions you should ask to make the right move.

Do You Accept My Insurance Plan?

Because a change in insurance is a major reason why families look for a new family care provider, this question is a major selling point. It is significantly cheaper to see a doctor within your insurance network. Be as specific as possible when discussing your insurance plan. Just asking if the office accepts the major insurance names isn’t enough. Narrow it down to the HMO or PPO plan you have to ensure complete compatibility.

Do You Accept New Patients? If So, How Soon Can I Be Seen?

Some doctors in your insurance plan network are already at full capacity. When this happens, they cannot accept new patients until some leave the practice or the practice expands. When a doctor’s office expands, they bring on either a certified nurse practitioner or a physician assistant to meet the needs of the growing patient base.

By asking this question, you are really asking if there will be any hiccups in the onboarding process. For those that do accept new patients, you may also want to follow up by asking when appointment dates are available. If you are on a new patient list, you could be waiting up to a year for an initial visit, which is not good for immediate medical concerns.

What is Your Prescription Refill Policy?

Many insurance plans and pharmacies provide patients long-term medication supply in 60- or 90-day increments versus the standard 30-day refill policy to help cut costs. However, some doctors do not feel comfortable with issuing long-term care prescriptions for more than a month at a time. Some are also against issuing more than two or three refills before the patient’s next visit. Medication type and pharmacy policies can add to the difficulty in securing long-term supply with refills.

Patients with Type-2 Diabetes or rheumatoid arthritis need a consistent supply of medication. Being able to get long-term supply with multiple refills can cut costs for the patient because they will not need to see a doctor simply for a refill.

What In-House Laboratory Services Do You Offer?

It is extremely convenient for both doctors and patients when routine laboratory services are available in-house. This can expedite results for quicker treatment plans.

If the doctor’s office does not offer in-house lab services, ask them which locations they work with. Not all lab locations are compatible with your insurance plan, so you will want to check before doing any services there.

Will I Be Seen By a Doctor or a Certified Nurse Practitioner/Physician Assistant at Your Location?

To help spread the patient load, some doctors may hire certified registered nurses or other physician assistants to help with diagnosis and reasons for the visit. If you are not comfortable being seen by anyone other than the main provider of a clinic location, bring this up before choosing a doctor’s office. If this is not an immediate concern to you, be aware that it is possible you could be meeting with a certified nurse practitioner or a physician assistant rather than the doctor for your routine visits.

Choosing a new doctor for you and your family is an educated decision. We hope that these questions can help you in your search. If you need medical attention quicker than most new patient onboarding, we invite you to walk-in at any of our five Phoenix, AZ family clinics. Our newest South Phoenix location can be found in Laveen, right off 35th Avenue and Baseline Road. We look forward to seeing you there!

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