This is a serious question

I know a good number of you have at least some real world medical experience, so I'm going to ask.

Almost all my life, I have been told what doctor I would be going to. As a child, (until about 17 or 18 years of age) it was our pediatrician. After High School, I joined the Navy, so i went to whatever Medical Officer has the duty or the Battalion Surgeon when I was attached to the Marines. After being medically boarded out, the VA took over. For years, i had whatever resident was available, and eventually (as I approached 50) I insisted on a regular care provider, and was assigned a Nurse Practitioner. (The military does complete strip to your skivvies physicals, the VA rushes through and only has you remove clothing that is absolutely necessary.)

Now, my wife may, within the next year or so, will be graduating with her degree in early education, and by the terms of her grant, she will have to teach in a school with at least a 10% Native American population. (She is Native, and the grant is to enable Native adults to teach Native children.) Unfortunately, there are no such schools around here. There are a few out in the western and central area of the Commonwealth or on the South Shore, the Cape and the Islands. (Her dream would be to be able to teach on her Tribal land on Martha's vineyard.) When this happens, It would probably mean a move to someplace more than 50 miles from a VA medical Facility. (VA would still cover the cost of my care, and the tribe also would cover some.)

The upshot is that I have never actually learned to find a doctor on my own. How does one find a doctor?

I'm sure that the VA will have some say in the process, but it would mostly be up to me.

My idea REAL doctor would be of either gender, although a female would be preferred. (This is not a sexual thing, I just find as a rule females are gentler and more thorough.) I don't want a doctor that schedules 15 - 30 minute appointments for a full physical. (I don't see how you can get a complete history and physical in less than 45 minutes to an hour.) and doctor that will DO a complete physical (an old fashioned strip to your skivvies head to toe exam). without rushing, and not talk down to me. I have medical training, and am perfectly capable of asking for an explanation of what I don't understand. I'm not a child or an idiot.

Now, I know I would probably have to choose from a set list, but how do you find out about the doctor's practice?

1Doc1. Hi, Finding a doctor, a good doctor is very important, one the suits your needs. There is certain criteria I use when searching for any profession and there are many levels to this.

For me, the obvious ones,

first and foremost,

1 eill they take my insurance.

2 Convenience

3 General Practitioner or Internist

4 Then I look at the schools they attended

5. Age, gender, nationality

6 Are they someone you would trust and feel comfortable with

7 When did they graduate

Do you want someone that graduated 30 years ago? Or someone who graduated 6 months ago? Ir somewhere in between. Only you can tell.

8 Also, ask people you know for recommendations.

9 Don't forget, you too are interviewing the doctor, if you do not like them after your visit, continue your quest.

That is all I can think of of the top of my head.

Unfortuneatley one undiscovered fault is that the govt hold all and I do mean all the cards.

I think when I last heard there were about 1 million canadians tha cant find a family doc and in Canada you cannot see a specialist without referral from the fam doc they dont have. and the government very closely limits the size and growth if any of MD programmes in the country.

I wont ramble further,if you would to pm me that would be in the words of Mr Data, satisfactory. Leonard too sometimes.