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                        JeffNEWS, January 31, 1995
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Why Is Having a Personal Physician One of the Best Things
You Can Do for Your Health?
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What is a personal physician?

A personal physician is that doctor who: 

   o You can call on first for any issue, symptom or problem affecting
     your health and who will help you find answers and solutions.
   o Knows and cares about you and your family and encourages developing a 
     long-term, trusting, healthcare relationship with you.
   o Will remain your doctor even if you become more seriously ill and
     need referrals to other specialists.


What kinds of doctors have the skills to be personal physicians? 

Personal physicians, sometimes more broadly categorized as primary-care 
doctors, are keen diagnosticians. Usually, they are educated and 
experienced in family medicine for you and your entire family, internal 
medicine for adults, or general pediatrics for those from birth through 
teen years. 

For many young women, a gynecologist serves successfully as a personal 
physician. However, as a woman ages and the possibility of illness 
increases, it is good to include in this health partnership a family or 
internal medicine physician. 


What should I expect of my personal physician?

You should expect your personal physician to provide these key elements 
in your relationship:

   o Listen - and absorb what you say
   o Explain - well and thoroughly
   o Respond to your concerns and questions 
   o Be available when you need him/her
   o Diagnose and treat you with the method least disruptive to your 
     activities


Communication seems to be very important. Is good communication too much 
to expect?

No. Communication is a critical part of any doctor's role. You will know 
your doctor has good communications skills if you and your family members 
feel free to ask whatever questions are on your mind and are satisfied you 
receive clear and complete answers from your doctor and his or her staff. 
Your doctor should be a good listener, conveying the feeling he or she 
cares about you and is giving you full attention. You should not feel that 
you are being rushed through the interview or appointment or that your 
questions are foolish. You should feel free to call the office back if you 
forget exactly what was said or if you have other questions. Over time, 
your doctor should know you well enough to tell if something is wrong from 
how and what you both communicate during your appointment.


How can I find and select a personal physician?

   o Ask advice from friends or fellow employees who have a personal 
     physician with whom they are pleased. 
   o Choose a personal physician who is board-certified or board-eligible 
     as a family physician, general internist or general pediatrician. Your 
     health plan may provide a list of physicians from which to choose. 
   o Call 1-800-JEFF-NOW for help in selecting a personal physician who 
     accepts your insurance plan or to make an appointment. 


Why should I choose a Jefferson-affiliated personal physician?

Highly competent family medicine and internal medicine physicians who 
are affiliated with Jefferson have the qualities you are looking for in a 
personal physician. They are there when you need them and have offices 
located throughout the area. Many see patients in the evening and on 
Saturday, in addition to regular weekday office hours. Call our 
representatives at Jefferson's free physician referral service, at 1-800-
JEFF-NOW.


Why do we hear so much about prevention now?

Both the public and virtually all providers agree that we must do more 
to prevent illness. Prevention both implies and requires a partnership 
between patient and physician. 


Is this what "relationship building" means?

In part, yes. One part of the new challenge - of what some call 
"relationship building"- means physician and patient sharing responsibility 
for health. The healthcare relationship of the future must be of patients 
who inform themselves about their own health care, including prevention, 
and of personal physicians who help patients learn to adopt habits that 
contribute to good health.

Both doctor and patient must now understand that good health is no 
longer defined mainly by reacting to illness. Rather, good health now means 
that your doctor and you work actively together to prevent illness. 


Once I find a personal physician, can I change?

Of course. After finding a doctor, the next critical step is assessing 
whether or not this is the personal physician and office for you. Keep in 
mind that the quality of the doctor-patient relationship should be the most 
important part of your decision. Draw up a list of what else is important 
to you and base your decision on how your new doctor scores. If for any 
reason you are dissatisfied with any important part of the relationship, we 
recommend sharing your dissatisfaction with the physician, office manager 
or office staff. However, if you are not comfortable doing this or you are 
unhappy with your choice, please don't hesitate to change. 

For help in selecting a personal physician to provide care for you and 
your family or to make an appointment, call our representatives, Monday to 
Friday, from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m., at 1-800-JEFF-NOW.


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Information provided by:  Editor, JeffNEWS
                          (215) 955-6204
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