Many patients spend a lot of time waiting to be seen for a very brief appointment. Ask your doctor what he or she believes is a reasonable waiting time. No one likes to plan a hospital visit, but sometimes they are necessary. It's good to know if your doctor where your doctor admits his or her patients. You may not want to drive all the way across town to go to a hospital.
Some doctors love adolescents, other prefer geriatrics.
Ask your doctor if he or she has a preference. Board certification assures that the doctor has passed the board requirements for his or her specialty. If you are too intimidated to ask the doctor, ask his office staff or the local medical society. Certain tests may be more important to you, such as cholesterol, or colon cancer screens. It's important that you and your doctor share the same philosophy to avoid disagreements down the road.