A good time to choose a primary care physician is while you or your family enjoy good health. This gives you an opportunity to select a physician most suited to your needs. (A primary care physician is one who will assume responsibility for advising you on all your medical needs. Those specialties usually involved in primary care are family practice, pediatrics, obstetrics/gynecology, and internal medicine.) The primary care physician serves as your coordinator for the use of other medical consultants or facilities as the need arises.

A phone call to the physician's office at the number shown in the listings is usually the most efficient way to obtain information. In some cases, the office may have a web page that lists basic information about office hours, types of patients cared for, etc.

At the initial contact you will want to explain your circumstances to the office personnel and determine the physician's criteria for accepting new patients.

• Insurance coverage
• Specific family health conditions
• Ages of family members to be included

• Will the doctor request an interview with a family member prior to accepting your family to the practice?
• Will the office send monthly statements, or are payments due at the time of each office visit?
  (In some cases, this policy will be prescribed by your insurance company.)
• Is the doctor accepting patients receiving Medicare, Title 19 Medicaid, or other subsidized programs?
• What is the doctor's policy regarding patients visiting consultants for specialized services?
  Are patients expected to consult specialists on their own, or does the primary physician expect to help select a consultant and arrange the appointment.
  (In some cases, this policy will be established by your insurance company.)

Here are names, addresses, and telephone numbers of area primary care doctors who are currently accepting new patients. However, a listing does not mean that any particular doctor is able to accept all patients who may inquire.