This is a great question, and I’m glad that you asked, since I am interested in hearing what people think about this as well. I suppose that word of mouth is generally superior to, say, just searching for a primary care doctor through your insurance provider’s website, but I don’t have any more specific ideas than that.
Personally, I can, and often have, put off going to the doctor due to akrasia, so I put a bit of extra weight on how nice the doctor is—having a nice doctor lowers the willpower-activation-energy needed for me to make an appointment. I also think that willingness to spend time with patients is important, but I’d be more likely to think this than the average person—I’m pretty shy, so I’ll often tell my doctors that I don’t have any more questions (when I actually do) if they seem like they’re in a hurry, so as to not bother them.
This is a great question, and I’m glad that you asked, since I am interested in hearing what people think about this as well. I suppose that word of mouth is generally superior to, say, just searching for a primary care doctor through your insurance provider’s website, but I don’t have any more specific ideas than that.
Personally, I can, and often have, put off going to the doctor due to akrasia, so I put a bit of extra weight on how nice the doctor is—having a nice doctor lowers the willpower-activation-energy needed for me to make an appointment. I also think that willingness to spend time with patients is important, but I’d be more likely to think this than the average person—I’m pretty shy, so I’ll often tell my doctors that I don’t have any more questions (when I actually do) if they seem like they’re in a hurry, so as to not bother them.