If you are looking for a new doctor clinic that is close to you, you have more than likely searched for the term GP near me. Depending on how desperate you are for medical attention you will likely look through a couple of candidates before making your final decision. Many people who are in need of medical advice tend to go with the first option that they see and overlook the drawbacks that their decision brings with it.
Below we are going to explore the things you should be looking out for when you search GP near me.
Actual location
When you are searching for GP near me, one of your main criteria is the location of the clinic. While some reliable sources should appear to the top of the Google search page, it is also important to pay attention to where the actual location of the facility is. Your location could be tagged to a home address or somewhere else that isn’t where you are currently. If you are in need of medical attention as soon as possible, you don’t want to be wasting time driving around to facilities all over town.
How qualified their staff are
Just because you are in a hurry to see a medical professional, doesn’t mean you should settle a sub-par general practitioner. Giving their website a quick browse will allow you to see which doctors they have working at the clinic along with their credentials and experience. You should aim to find a general practitioner that knows what they are doing by having several years under their belt.
Additionally if you are looking into the staff of the facility you may also want to check if they have both male and female general practitioners. Some people have a preference which gender sees them and from such it is important to mention if you are searching for a GP near me.
How do past patients rate them?
One of the many great things with the internet and social media is how open people can be to share their experiences with something. Reviews in situations where you have little to no time to do your own research are vital. While many can be made up by the company or really angry customers, they are generally a good indication of what your experience will be like.
After you have gone through the particular facility’s website, head on over to their social media platforms and Google business listing. Here you will find the nitty gritty details about how much someone loved their experience or how terrible it was entirely. It is also important to note that you shouldn’t shrug off a GP near me just because of one bad review. You should be looking at how they interact with their past patients and how they go about rectifying the situation. If they just get into an online screaming match with them, they probably aren’t the best choice for you.
Operating hours
Another big factor that you need to take into consideration when you are searching for a “GP near me” is their operating hours. If you require a medical consultation after traditional working hours you need to keep that in mind when looking for a facility.
Some places do have an after-hours doctor on hand who is able to make home visits after work and even on public holidays. While these places are out there you need to be sure that you are looking thoroughly enough to find this small detail, otherwise you may arrive at a facility that will be shut wasting even more of your time.