AgePage

National Institute on Aging

Choosing a Doctor

Mrs. Wiley had a big surprise the other day 

when she called her doctor’s office to make an 

appointment. The receptionist told her that 

Dr. Horowitz was retiring at the end of the 

year. After all these years of care, Mrs. Wiley 

felt like she was losing a trusted friend. 

Dr. Horowitz had treated her strep throat, 

bladder infections, and that nasty sprained 

wrist. He even helped her through menopause. 

Mrs. Wiley worried that she wouldn’t be able 

to find a new doctor she’d like.

There are many reasons why you might 

be looking for a new doctor. Maybe 

you’ve moved to another city or perhaps 

your doctor is retiring. If you need a 

new doctor, the following ideas can 

help you find one who is right for you. 

Types of Primary Care Doctors 

Your primary care doctor is the 

doctor you usually see for general health 

problems. When choosing a new doctor, 
AgePage

National Institute on Aging

2 

Choosing a Doctor

Mrs. Wiley had a big surprise the other day 

when she called her doctor’s office to make an 

appointment. The receptionist told her that 

Dr. Horowitz was retiring at the end of the 

year. After all these years of care, Mrs. Wiley 

felt like she was losing a trusted friend. 

Dr. Horowitz had treated her strep throat, 

bladder infections, and that nasty sprained 

wrist. He even helped her through menopause. 

Mrs. Wiley worried that she wouldn’t be able 

to find a new doctor she’d like.

There are many reasons why you might 

be looking for a new doctor. Maybe 

you’ve moved to another city or perhaps 

your doctor is retiring. If you need a 

new doctor, the following ideas can 

help you find one who is right for you. 

Types of Primary Care Doctors 

Your primary care doctor is the 

doctor you usually see for general health 

problems. When choosing a new doctor, 

you will need to decide if you want 

this doctor to be a general or family 

practitioner, an internist, or a geriatrician.

F General practitioners treat a wide 

range of medical problems in people 

of all ages. 

F Family practitioners are similar 

to general practitioners, but have 

extra training to care for all family 

members, young or old. 

F Internists are doctors for adults. 

Some internists take additional 

training to become specialists. For 

example, a cardiologist is an internist 

who specializes in heart disease. 

F Geriatricians care for older adults. 

A geriatrician is trained in family 

practice or internal medicine, and 

has additional training in caring 

for older people. 

Asking Around—People and 

Places To Help With Your Search 

Once you have a sense of what kind 

of doctor is best for you, ask people you 

trust, for example, friends, family, and 

coworkers, about doctors they use and 

like. You might ask questions such as:

F Do you know a good doctor?

F Would you recommend your 

doctor?
AgePage

National Institute on Aging

2 

Choosing a Doctor

Mrs. Wiley had a big surprise the other day 

when she called her doctor’s office to make an 

appointment. The receptionist told her that 

Dr. Horowitz was retiring at the end of the 

year. After all these years of care, Mrs. Wiley 

felt like she was losing a trusted friend. 

Dr. Horowitz had treated her strep throat, 

bladder infections, and that nasty sprained 

wrist. He even helped her through menopause. 

Mrs. Wiley worried that she wouldn’t be able 

to find a new doctor she’d like.

There are many reasons why you might 

be looking for a new doctor. Maybe 

you’ve moved to another city or perhaps 

your doctor is retiring. If you need a 

new doctor, the following ideas can 

help you find one who is right for you. 

Types of Primary Care Doctors 

Your primary care doctor is the 

doctor you usually see for general health 

problems. When choosing a new doctor, 

you will need to decide if you want 

this doctor to be a general or family 

practitioner, an internist, or a geriatrician.

F General practitioners treat a wide 

range of medical problems in people 

of all ages. 

F Family practitioners are similar 

to general practitioners, but have 

extra training to care for all family 

members, young or old. 

F Internists are doctors for adults. 

Some internists take additional 

training to become specialists. For 

example, a cardiologist is an internist 

who specializes in heart disease. 

F Geriatricians care for older adults. 

A geriatrician is trained in family 

practice or internal medicine, and 

has additional training in caring 

for older people. 

Asking Around—People and 

Places To Help With Your Search 

Once you have a sense of what kind 

of doctor is best for you, ask people you 

trust, for example, friends, family, and 

coworkers, about doctors they use and 

like. You might ask questions such as:

F Do you know a good doctor?

F Would you recommend your 

doctor?
6 7 

all the medicines you take. Include both 

prescription and over-the-counter drugs, 

even vitamins, supplements, and eye drops. 

Write down the dosage you take, such as 

20 mg once a day. You might even put 

all your drugs in a bag and bring them 

with you to the appointment. Also, write 

down any drug allergies or serious drug 

reactions you’ve had. You will need to 

give all your drug information to the 

doctor to include in your medical record.

During the visit, take time to ask 

the doctor any questions you have 

about your health. You might want to 

write these questions down before your 

visit so you don’t forget them. Some 

questions you may want to ask include: 

F Will you give me written instructions 

about my care?

F May I bring a family member 

(spouse, daughter, or son) to my 

office visits?

F Are you willing to talk with my family 

about my condition if I give my 

permission?

During your first appointment, 

the doctor or nurse will likely ask you 

questions about your current health 

and the medical history of your family. 

This information will also be added to 

your medical record. 

F Is the doctor Board certified?

Board-certified doctors have extra 

training and pass special exams after 

medical school to become specialists 

in a field of medicine such as family 

practice, internal medicine, or geriatrics.

Other Helpful Questions

It might be helpful to learn about 

the doctor’s experience treating older 

patients or people with a medical history 

similar to yours. Here are more questions 

you might want to ask the office staff: 

F Does the doctor see many older 

patients? 

F Does the doctor treat many patients 

with the same chronic health 

problem that I have (for example, 

diabetes or heart problems)?

F If I have to go to the hospital, will 

the doctor take care of me, or will 

a hospital doctor care for me?

The First Appointment 

After choosing a doctor, make your 

first appointment. This visit is a time 

for you to get to know the doctor and 

for the doctor to get to know you. 

You will probably be asked to fill out 

a new-patient form. To help you, bring 

a list of your past medical problems and 
6 7 

all the medicines you take. Include both 

prescription and over-the-counter drugs, 

even vitamins, supplements, and eye drops. 

Write down the dosage you take, such as 

20 mg once a day. You might even put 

all your drugs in a bag and bring them 

with you to the appointment. Also, write 

down any drug allergies or serious drug 

reactions you’ve had. You will need to 

give all your drug information to the 

doctor to include in your medical record.

During the visit, take time to ask 

the doctor any questions you have 

about your health. You might want to 

write these questions down before your 

visit so you don’t forget them. Some 

questions you may want to ask include: 

F Will you give me written instructions 

about my care?

F May I bring a family member 

(spouse, daughter, or son) to my 

office visits?

F Are you willing to talk with my family 

about my condition if I give my 

permission?

During your first appointment, 

the doctor or nurse will likely ask you 

questions about your current health 

and the medical history of your family. 

This information will also be added to 

your medical record. 

F Is the doctor Board certified?

Board-certified doctors have extra 

training and pass special exams after 

medical school to become specialists 

in a field of medicine such as family 

practice, internal medicine, or geriatrics.

Other Helpful Questions

It might be helpful to learn about 

the doctor’s experience treating older 

patients or people with a medical history 

similar to yours. Here are more questions 

you might want to ask the office staff: 

F Does the doctor see many older 

patients? 

F Does the doctor treat many patients 

with the same chronic health 

problem that I have (for example, 

diabetes or heart problems)?

F If I have to go to the hospital, will 

the doctor take care of me, or will 

a hospital doctor care for me?

The First Appointment 

After choosing a doctor, make your 

first appointment. This visit is a time 

for you to get to know the doctor and 

for the doctor to get to know you. 

You will probably be asked to fill out 

a new-patient form. To help you, bring 

a list of your past medical problems and 
6 

F Is the doctor Board certified?

Board-certified doctors have extra 

training and pass special exams after 

medical school to become specialists 

in a field of medicine such as family 

practice, internal medicine, or geriatrics.

Other Helpful Questions

It might be helpful to learn about 

the doctor’s experience treating older 

patients or people with a medical history 

similar to yours. Here are more questions 

you might want to ask the office staff: 

F Does the doctor see many older 

patients? 

F Does the doctor treat many patients 

with the same chronic health 

problem that I have (for example, 

diabetes or heart problems)?

F If I have to go to the hospital, will 

the doctor take care of me, or will 

a hospital doctor care for me?

The First Appointment 

After choosing a doctor, make your 

first appointment. This visit is a time 

for you to get to know the doctor and 

for the doctor to get to know you. 

You will probably be asked to fill out 

a new-patient form. To help you, bring 

a list of your past medical problems and