Healthcare is a hot issue in this country and when it comes to your family, you want the best. In order to find the family doctor that is right for you, several factors should be considered before you begin your search.

In these days of managed healthcare, if you are of limited resources your first consideration may be what doctors are accepted under your current health plan. A directory of Preferred Provider Organizations (PPO)doctors should be provided by your health plan. But because changes are often made before new directories can be printed, always double check with the doctor's office to make sure they still accept your health plan. If you like a doctor who is not part of your plan, you still may be able to ask him or her to join.

Next, consider the ages of your family members. You may want to use a pediatrician for younger children.

Once you have established who will be using your family doctor, ask yourself a series of questions: How far are you willing to travel for healthcare? Is it more important to always see the same doctor or always have the same doctor available to see you? Do you only want to see a physician or would you be willing to use a nurse practitioner?

How far are you willing to travel for healthcare? If you live in a large metropolitan area, you probably have a large selection of doctors within a small area. But if you live in a more rural location, you may have the widest selection by being willing to travel a greater distance.

Do you always want to see the same doctor or always have the same doctor available to see you? If a practice only has one doctor, then you know whom you will be getting everytime you make an appointment. There are advantages to this type of service. The consistency in care may enable you to build a stronger rapport with your doctor. And he or she may more readily detect a problem because the doctor is more familiar with you and your medical history. However, this may make scheduling appointments more difficult since only one person is available to see everyone. And since doctors do go on vacation or may need to be out of the office for any number of reasons, you'll need to find out how the doctor provides for his patients when he is unavailable.

A larger practice, including several physicians, has several advantages. If you do not ask for a specific provider, scheduling appointments is generally easier. Also, vacations and emergencies will not leave you without a doctor. And more doctors often mean longer office hours, giving you more flexibility in scheduling appointments. However, you may lose out on consistency of care as scheduling with the same doctor in a timely manner could be difficult. Because the volume of patients far exceeds what one physician can handle, your doctor of choice may be booked solid when you go to make an appointment.

Do you want to see a physician or are you willing to use a nurse practitioner(NP)? Many practices employ both doctors and nurse practitioners. A nurse practitioner is an RN who has completed special training and received certification as an NP. They are qualified to diagnose and treat health problems, prescribe medication, and interpret lab work and X-rays, much like a physician. And perhaps because they are first trained as nurses, they often take more time to explain treatments and prognoses and in more layman's terms than do some doctors. Also, because the doctors are often so overscheduled, you may be able to get an appointment with a nurse practitioner more quickly.

After you have decided what type of practice and where, then you are ready to look at specific doctors. If you don't want to waste your time sifting through doctors you only heard of through the yellow pages or listed in your PPO directory, get recommendations from friends, family, coworkers, or acquaintances. Ask them how long they have been using their physician and what they like about him or her.

When you finally have a list of a few doctors that fit your above requirements, you are ready to talk to individuals. Most doctors are willing to speak with you in their office free of charge. But be mindful of their time. Carefully prepare your list of questions and keep your meeting down to 5 or 6 minutes.

The doctors that you interview may have had glowing recommendations from friends and family alike, but you need to determine if the philosophy and personality of the potentional caregiver mesh with you and your family. Will you be an equal partner in managing your care, making informed decisions in concert with your doctor? Could a doctor's gruff and abrasive personality make a family member reluctant to be seen or unwilling to be completely open and honest with the physician. Will the doctor be supportive of your preferences, such as discussing alternative medicines if you are partial to homeopathic, natural remedies and prescribing medication safe for nursing babies when possible if you are a breastfeeding mother. You may have other issues that are important to you. Discuss the most important ones with your doctor.

Keep in mind that a list and an interview will not ensure that you have choosen the ideal caregiver. But by following the above suggestions, you are on the right path to finding the family doctor that is right for you.