Interviewing For a New PCP

Going to fire my current primary care provider - appointments are too short and are 85% Q&A (for anxiety, depression, domestic violence, suicidal thoughts, and now safe gun storage) and 15% HEENT. That translates to 90 seconds of physical exam.

I've been advised to book an interview appointment with a couple of potential providers - I'm told its about a 10-15 minute appointment where I can ask questions about care, protocols, and such. Typically this would cost around $75 and is not covered by insurance.

I've interviewed a practice over the phone before, but that was usually front office personnel and addressed things like labs, insurance, locations for tests / procedures, and policies.

Anyone ever hear of this or do this?

Any current or former medical professionals care to comment?

I recently switched to a new PCP. During my online research, there was one healthcare system in my area that specifically said they offered a free "get to know me" appointment with providers. It is meant for you to determine if you have a good rapport with the provider and want to continue seeing them for your healthcare. I did end up choosing that healthcare system, but didn't make use of the free appointment. It took many weeks to schedule the free appointment, then many more weeks to schedule your first actual appointment. I just dove in and scheduled a new patient exam, which was way less thorough than I was hoping for.

I just dove in and scheduled a new patient exam, which was way less thorough than I was hoping for.

I am sorry to hear you were disappointed. What was disappointing bout your exam experience?

When we first moved to Dallas I made an appointment with a neurosurgeon to meet and establish history for my wife - no medical reason other than to see if we were comfortable with him. We had a bad experience with the last one and I wanted to make sure we could communicate and trust him. Fortunately we clicked and never needed to use him other than periodic surveillance cerebral angiograms

Did the same with our PCP and didn’t like him, so we switched to a different clinic and found one we liked. First appointment we went together and it consisted mostly of discussion - more than an hour - with a quick checkup and scheduled followon for more thorough exams for both my wife and I. Insurance covered it all.

Did the same when we moved again. If a doc won’t take the time to be interviewed, they don’t cut mustard for us. We made it clear when we scheduled we were looking for doctors we trusted and were comfortable with.

I am sorry to hear you were disappointed. What was disappointing bout your exam experience?

I scheduled that appointment online, so it's possibly my fault for doing something wrong. In the reason for exam box, I wrote "to establish myself as a new patient with annual physical". Maybe there was a different box I was supposed to check to flag it differently.

The exam was disappointing because I never left my seat next to the tiny desk. I talked to the assistant what seemed like forever telling medical and family history. I would have preferred I filled out forms myself ahead of time, either online or actual paper forms in the waiting room. When the doctor came in, he basically asked the exact same questions I just answered for the assistant. At one point I actually told him this was all just discussed and asked if it was not on the screen he was looking at. Towards the end of the appointment, he rechecked my BP and listened to my heart over my shirt for about 15 seconds. I have seen him 2 other times for follow-ups for high BP and GERD. I have never sat up on the exam table.

@bendover this has been my experience with my last 3. Maybe we should just do telehealth visits, at least then I can wait in the comfort of my home to talk to them. Likely my BP won't be high because I'm irritated waiting either. Outside of ordering labs and asking me way too many questions about mental health, which I told my current NP that I am not here for that, I haven't left the chair in a long time. I'm starting to get the impression we don't want preventative medicine. Just wait for the check engine light to go on and head to the ER for that $15K bill.

Last night, I scheduled an annual checkup with my new PCP that I've seen a few times for other issues that I discussed earlier. As before, I scheduled this appointment online, but this time it looked completely different than the first time and there was an option to click on "annual primary care checkup (adult)". Maybe new patients aren't shown any other options but given their standard meet and greet. So I guess maybe I'll finally get to see how complete and thorough my doctor really is.

However, last night after I scheduled this appointment, I realized nowhere did it actually say "physical exam". Everything was "annual checkup". Now I'm concerned I'm going to get the basic verbal discussion Medicare patients get, (even though I'm not on Medicare). I guess in 3 months I'll have my answer.