How to find a doctor that meets your personal healthcare needs

When searching for a doctor, there are a number of options, so many, in fact, that it can be overwhelming to make a decision. Finding the best doctor for your situation, however, does not have to be a challenging ordeal.

Instead, know that there are three different types of doctors that you can choose from, including Family Practice, Internal Medicine and General Practice. The following are the details on each of the three types.

Family Practice
Family practice physicians are able to treat patients of all ages, from newborns to the elderly. They can treat a wide variety of ailments and often can also treat conditions you’d normally see a specialist for, such as women’s health needs or sports injuries.

Internal Medicine
Internal medicine physicians typically treat adults and specialize in the prevention, diagnosis and management of disease and chronic conditions. These physicians are uniquely specialized and experienced in these areas and can provide the best care.

General Practice
General Practice physicians are similar to family practice physicians as they can also treat patients of any gender or age. This category is one area where you might also find osteopaths, which are physicians who practice a type of alternative medicine with special focus on the musculoskeletal system and are distinguished by the “D.O.” after their name instead of “M.D.”

Knowing these three different types of doctors will greatly help you in deciding which one is right for you. It is always a good idea as well to check with your health insurance plan to see what types of doctors are covered and which ones are not. Having all of this information will help you make the most informed decision possible.