By Chris Ketchie
Beaufort Memorial Vice President of Physician Services
One of the longest and most important relationships of your life will likely be the one you share with your primary care provider (PCP). Your PCP serves as an ongoing medical resource and provides comprehensive care for chronic health issues or concerns.
Finding a new PCP, however, can feel overwhelming. The population here in the Lowcountry is growing and aging, creating an increased demand for primary care and specialty care services. These needs are growing faster than healthcare systems can meet them.
If you’re new to the area, or if your primary care provider is retiring, it can be overwhelming to figure out what’s next. Where do you even start with such an important decision?
When it comes to finding a new PCP, here are a few things to consider:
Your insurance network
Research the providers within your healthcare plan using an online doctor database so you won’t be surprised with out-of-network costs or a high bill from a provider who does not accept your insurance.
Word of mouth
Online reviews give you many opinions about a particular PCP, but can sometimes lack context and reliability. They can be a good place to start, but recommendations from friends, neighbors or family members can be more accurate and you can ask questions about good and bad experiences.
Your particular needs
If you have a chronic medical condition, such as hypertension or diabetes, look for a primary care provider who specializes or has a specific interest in your conditions.
Beaufort Memorial has a comprehensive online provider directory that shows which providers are accepting new patients, and the specialties and clinical interests of each provider.
Having a gender preference for your PCP can have an impact on who you feel comfortable talking to, as well. Ask yourself if you would be more comfortable bringing up certain issues with a male or female provider. That can help narrow down your choices.
Visit BeaufortMemorial.org/Providers to see the full list.
Don’t wait to schedule
Be proactive when scheduling with a PCP. If you’re new to the area, don’t wait until you need an appointment to schedule one.
For immediate care needs and medication refills that may be needed before your PCP visit, Beaufort Memorial has three Express Care locations in Port Royal, Okatie and Bluffton with providers that can help, and these locations are open evenings and weekends.
Onsite visit
The best gauge of care is to experience it. Make an appointment to give the office and provider a test drive. At your visit, evaluate how your visit went, the friendliness of front desk and office staff, and any wait times you experience.
When you walk out of an appointment, you should feel comfortable with what went on and that you have a clear understanding of what your treatment plan is. We never like people going home from an appointment with unanswered questions or feeling like they weren’t heard. It’s important to make sure your PCP is a good fit for you.
To see what Beaufort Memorial primary care providers are accepting new patients, visit BeaufortMemorial.org/PCPNewPatients.
Chris Ketchie has been the Vice President of Physician Services at Beaufort Memorial since 2016. He is head of Beaufort Memorial Physician Partners, the largest multispecialty medical group in Beaufort and Jasper counties, overseeing 23 practices comprised of 100+ physicians and advanced practice providers.
