What Are the Steps to Finding Your Ideal Family Doctor?

It's really not likely that "physician near me" and "doctor near me" apps are going to send you to a great doctor. You will have to do some of the footwork in person. Finding a doctor isn't as easy as 1-2-3, but there can be a certain methodology involved. Here are some necessary steps more or less in the order you need to take them.

1. Look for a doctor who is relationship-oriented rather than production-oriented. A huge, cafeteria style waiting room with lots of support staff is not usually a sign of a doctor who is going to spend a lot of time with your personal needs. (There are some exceptions to this rule. Specialists in complex ongoing care, such as oncologists, always need large support staff. That doesn't mean they don't care.) 
2. Look for a doctor who is willing to spend time with you. An initial visit with your doctor usually take 60 minutes of contact time. Follow-up visits may take 30 minutes. If the very first time you see your doctor the visit lasts five minutes and you are told to come back in six months, either you are in remarkably good health or your doctor is not able to provide you with quality care. Expect to pay more for an in-depth visit, but expect to come in less.
3. Pay attention to how your doctor schedules appointments. An old-fashioned doctor might offer Saturday morning appointments and evening hours a couple of times a week. This is increasingly rare. However, having some difficulty getting an appointment can be a good sign with a solo practitioner. A doctor who knows the complexities of your case will want to schedule you at a time that allows running over without inconvenience to other patients. If your doctor says, "I can't see you at (your preferred time) but I can give you an appointment (at a time he or she can give you all the time you need)," you probably have found a desirable doctor.
4. As a corollary to the above, doctors who schedule their own appointments, rather than relying on staff, tend to give you more time.

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1. Decide whether you want to be seen by a male physician or a female physician. There really are differences between male and female physicians. In American culture, men tend to support a do-it-fast, suck-it-up, man-up-and-take-your-medicine mentality. If your objective is to get in and out of the doctor's office as quickly as possible, it's usually a male physician whom you want to see.  Women tend to be more relational. They are more likely to listen to the way you feel about your condition. If you have a complicated condition that requires clinical judgment and being listened to, usually it is a female physician you want to see.

It can take a while to find the perfect doctor. When you do, treat the relationship as if it were as valuable as gold. You are likely to have spent considerable effort in finding the doctor you love and you won't want to let them go.