Finding a good primary care doctor is one of the most important steps you can take for your health.
This physician will serve as your “medical advisor,” performing routine screenings, helping with chronic issues, and providing just in time care for acute and/or urgent concerns.
So how do you find a primary care doctor in Austin?
Narrow Down What Type of Doctor You Want
In your search for a primary care doctor in Austin, the first question you should ask yourself is, “What type of doctor am I looking for?” There are many options available within the general term “primary care doctor,” each bringing something different to the table that might be very important to you and your family.
Family Practice or Internal Medicine
The main difference between a family practice doctor and an internal medicine doctor is that an internal medicine doctor only sees adult patients.
Whereas family practice physicians receive training in pediatrics, adult medicine, and gynecology to provide services for the whole family, internal medicine physicians tend to have a more in-depth understanding of complex health conditions or diseases, such as cancer.
For women, choosing an obstetrician/gynecologist as a primary care physician may also be an option, although you should ask what urgent and chronic conditions the doctor is prepared to treat.
Are you looking for a primary care physician just for yourself, for yourself and your partner, or for the whole family? Consider your health history to help you decide which type of physician would be the best fit.
DO or MD
Doctors of Osteopathic Medicine (DOs) and Doctors of Medicine (MDs) both complete medical school and residencies. They are equally qualified to be your primary care physician, but tend to approach primary care from different angles.
MDs are trained to focus on the disease and use drugs or surgery to alleviate it. DOs are taught to take a “whole body” approach, including lifestyle changes and hands-on treatment as well as drugs and surgery in their treatment plans.
Your personal approach to your own health can help determine whether an MD or a DO would be better aligned with your healthcare goals.
Culturally Competent Care
The dialogue between patient and physician is an essential component of primary care, so ensuring that there is no language barrier should be a priority. Some people prefer that their physical exams be conducted by a provider of the same sex and/or by someone who shares their cultural background.
Convenient Care
How far away is your doctor’s office? Is the option of virtual visits important to you? Do you prefer telemedicine over face-to-face visits entirely?
Whether transportation is an issue or you simply have a full schedule, how convenient it would be to see your doctor may be an important consideration.
Affordable Care
For some people, accessing an in-network primary care provider through their low-deductible insurance plan may be the most affordable option.
Many people, however, have either high-deductible plans or no health insurance coverage at all. If this describes your situation, consider seeing a primary care provider at your local community health center. Joining a Direct Primary Care (DPC) practice with a low monthly membership fee could also allow you to see a great primary care doctor in Austin at a very reasonable cost.
Do Your Research
Now that you know what you’re looking for in a primary care doctor in Austin, it’s time to do some research.
If you have health insurance, ask your insurance provider for a list of doctors who meet your criteria and are “in-network.” In-network refers to doctors whose affiliation with your insurance company includes negotiated rates.
Alternatively, use Zocdoc to conveniently search for and book appointments with in-network providers yourself.
If you are decide that you would like to use a DPC practice, use DPC Frontier’s Mapper to locate providers near you.
Healthgrades is a comprehensive online resource that shows ratings and reviews from patients of both insurance-based and DPC practices. It currently lists 539 primary care physicians in Austin – that’s a lot! Getting a glimpse of the experiences other people have had will help you narrow down your choice.
You can also read patient reviews on Google and Yelp.
Of course, the most trustworthy reviews come from people you personally know. In your search for a new primary care doctor, don’t hesitate to ask friends, family members, and co-workers if they would recommend their own physicians.
Primary Care Doctors at Euphora Health
Euphora Health is one of the region’s most trusted and fastest-growing primary care practices.
We are a DPC provider serving a wide variety of patients, including people with high-deductible health insurance plans, people with no insurance, people who use healthshare plans such as Sedera or Zion, and anyone dissatisfied with their plan’s in-network offerings.
If you don’t need to stay in-network because you have no insurance or you use a healthshare, DPC physicians such as our physicians at Euphora Health are easily accessible and offer discounts on labs, medicines, and procedures. Even with a high-deductible plan, DPC may be the best route for you since you’ll likely be paying more in copays until you reach your deductible.
Our physicians and staff are patient advocates that are passionate about providing affordable, high-quality healthcare.
Euphora Health offers:
- Same- or next-business day appointments for urgent issues
- 24/7 access to your primary care doctor
- Virtual visits
- In-person visits at our Austin and Cedar Park locations
- Referrals to affordable labs ad specialists
- Memberships starting at only $39 per month
Could Euphora Health be the right primary care option for you? We invite you to schedule a call with us to discuss your healthcare needs and the many healthcare services we offer.
