# How do I get recommendations for a new G.P.? **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [November 28, 2008, 6:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-i-get-recommendations-for-a-new-g-p/474830 "2008-11-28T18:58:31Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 7\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Acsenray](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/acsenray/32/4519_2.png) [@Acsenray](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Acsenray)\ **Post date:** [November 28, 2008, 6:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-i-get-recommendations-for-a-new-g-p/474830/1 "2008-11-28T18:58:31Z")
I’m in the process of trying to find a new primary care physician. I’m looking at my insurance provider’s listings and I have no idea how to choose. I’ve tried asking around, but the recommendations I’ve gotten are either too far in distance or fail to meet other criteria. And I don’t feel comfortable just walking up to people in the office asking them who their doctors are. How do I find a doc? ---
**Author:** ![Khadaji](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/9e8a1a/32.png) [@Khadaji](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Khadaji)\ **Post date:** [November 28, 2008, 7:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-i-get-recommendations-for-a-new-g-p/474830/2 "2008-11-28T19:11:33Z")
When I moved here I asked my GP what he thought and he suggested I go to pharmacists and ask them. He said that they deal with Doctors every day and know who the good ones are. I didn’t try it though. ---
**Author:** ![Carol\_the\_Impaler](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/6a8cbe/32.png) [@Carol\_the\_Impaler](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Carol_the_Impaler)\ **Post date:** [November 28, 2008, 7:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-i-get-recommendations-for-a-new-g-p/474830/3 "2008-11-28T19:21:06Z")
Nurses also tend to know who’s good. Do you know any nurses? ---
**Author:** ![Acsenray](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/acsenray/32/4519_2.png) [@Acsenray](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Acsenray)\ **Post date:** [November 28, 2008, 7:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-i-get-recommendations-for-a-new-g-p/474830/4 "2008-11-28T19:26:06Z")
Not locally. ---
**Author:** ![Qadgop\_the\_Mercotan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/qadgop_the_mercotan/32/83_2.png) [@Qadgop\_the\_Mercotan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Qadgop_the_Mercotan)\ **Post date:** [November 28, 2008, 8:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-i-get-recommendations-for-a-new-g-p/474830/5 "2008-11-28T20:16:08Z")
First, you can find the doctors in your area who are Board Certified in either Internal Medicine or Family Medicine. It’s no guarantee of finding a doc you’ll like, but it does document that the physician not only finished an accredited 3 year residency program in either Internal or Family Medicine but also met other criteria to qualify for and pass a fairly rigorous examination process. All you have to do to get licensed to practice medicine is graduate medical school, complete 1 year of training after med school (in most states), and pass a general exam. And frankly, doing all that is not real tough. Getting boarded in one’s specialty is considered passing a higher bar than that. [https://www.abms.org/WC/login.aspx](https://www.abms.org/WC/login.aspx) The site also works for finding other types of non-primary care boarded specialists too. QtM, DABFM ---
**Author:** ![Acsenray](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/acsenray/32/4519_2.png) [@Acsenray](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Acsenray)\ **Post date:** [November 28, 2008, 8:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-i-get-recommendations-for-a-new-g-p/474830/6 "2008-11-28T20:34:25Z")
Thanks for that link. ---
**Author:** ![Khadaji](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/9e8a1a/32.png) [@Khadaji](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Khadaji)\ **Post date:** [November 28, 2008, 9:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-i-get-recommendations-for-a-new-g-p/474830/7 "2008-11-28T21:20:24Z")
You might also try AngiesList.