7 Factors to Consider When Picking Medical Clinics

In the US, an estimated 40,000 to 80,000 deaths occur each year due to misdiagnosis of patients. This accounts for 33% of all diagnostic errors each year and is mainly contributed by primary care and outpatient clinics.

Picking medical clinics can be daunting and solely depends on the services you want. You may have uncertainties about the quality of care offered. The other fear is exuberant costs that may hit your pocket hard.

Keep reading to see the seven factors to consider when picking medical clinics.

1. Location Is Key

In case of emergency medical attention, you’d want to reach the hospital as soon as possible. Now imagine if the medical clinic of your choice is more than an hour’s drive away. That said, there are tons of options for clinics you can go to within your region.

Always know how long it’ll take to get to an urgent care center and whether you can make a time or location compromise. If you’re in Utah, Healthy Living Family Medical ensures you receive the best treatment you need and deserve.

2. Insurance Coverage

Insurance covers a network of hospitals that have formed a partnership to cover their clients. The first step is to check if the clinic accepts the health insurance you have. Keep in mind that insurance may not cover all of your expenses during a visit.

Especially if your health insurance cover most likely has a price cap, limit yourself or carry extra money to pay for additional costs. You can always call your insurance company to inquire if a particular clinic is within their network.

3. Reputation

Maya Angelou once said, ”people will forget what you said, people will forget what you did, but people will never forget how you made them feel”. Patients make reviews and ratings inclined towards how the clinic made them feel. As a result, the reviews section will provide you with useful information about the clinic.

Also, friends and family members may have valuable information about top-notch clinics. Note down the issues addressed during your research and know what you can compromise. Something may not work for someone else but may work well for you.

4. Credentials

Credentials show the clinic and its physicians have been given a vote of confidence in offering quality health services. The process for issuing certification is thorough and iterative; thus, a clinic can’t lower its standards once certified. Ensure the clinic has the appropriate licenses required to practice in your local area or country.

To ascertain the validity of the credentials, check the medical board’s website to see if the clinic is listed as a certified medical clinic. If this box is checked, be sure to get quality treatment from fully qualified professionals.

5. Charges

Although going to a hospital is often more expensive than going to a medical clinic. The latter varies with the kind of clinic you attend. Comparing medical costs from various clinics near you will assist you in determining how much you are willing to pay out of pocket.

The better the facility in terms of equipment and quality of service, the more likely expensive it is. Some clinics are designed to offer premium services, and target people of a specific social class hence charge premium fees. Make this consideration depending on how deep your pocket can go.

6. Technology Used

Advancements in technology, especially in medicine, have elevated the quality of healthcare globally. From automation of medical records to precision medicine to health wearables. These have made diagnosing and treatment become precise, eliminating mortal errors.

Technology gives you convenience. You can be able to book an appointment online at the comfort of your home. If the clinic is advanced, you should also be able to check the availability of physicians wherever you are.

However, some clinics are slow to adopt technology into their medical practices because of limiting factors. For a long time, medical records were kept in papers, which are susceptible to damage, loss, and theft.

Paperless record keeping assures you that your records will never go absolute. Moreso, clinics with advanced technology offer the most up-to-date treatment on the market.

7. Staffing of the Clinic

Consider inquiring about the type of medical providers in the clinic. Medical providers vary from pediatricians to lab technicians to nurses to psychologists. If you have kids, then you need to contemplate a clinic that has pediatricians.

Assess your previous medical needs encounters and search for a clinic with a specialist on that kind of ailment. This will save you a lot of trouble when you fall sick and you need immediate medical attention.

You also need to check the number of physicians and the traffic the clinic receives. This will help you gauge how responsive they’ll be during an emergency. You wouldn’t want to be kept on hold due to inadequate staffing.

Follow the Right Process When Picking Medical Clinics

When it comes to finding a medical clinic that provides the kind of service you desire, there are numerous aspects to consider. Sickness makes you vulnerable, and the medical care and attention given during that time will either make or break you. When picking medical clinics, do your homework to ensure that you receive the best possible care when you are ill.

Choose a clinic that has passed the test of time, as they’ll have gained more experience over time.

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