There are very few people who know the ins and outs of you better than your doctor. From your weight to your health concerns and even your past physical history, your doctor is privy to it all. Because of this, it’s important that you’re able to find a doctor not only that you trust emotionally, but that you can also trust with helping you make all-important health decisions. So to assist you in finding the right match for you in this area, here are three tips for picking a new primary care physician.

Check Their Certifications, Credentials, and References

Before you even think about picking a doctor, you should first do your own preliminary research online. As part of this, Elaine K. Howley, a contributor to U.S. News and World Report, recommends that you check each physician’s certifications, credentials, and references before your schedule an appointment. While you might have to do a little more research in order to understand what each credential or certification means, you’ll also be able to see if there’s any immediate red flags regarding the doctor you’re looking into, like a lot of malpractice issues or negative references from past or current patients.

Find Someone Available

Once you’ve narrowed down your search a bit, you then might want to research a little more about each doctor’s office. When you see your doctor, you won’t be only seeing the doctor. There are other people in the office like nursing staff and front desk assistants. For this part, the front desk is who you’ll want to ask some of your questions to. One of the most important questions to ask, according to Tina Donvito, a contributor to Reader’s Digest, is how busy the doctor is. If you will have to wait weeks or even months to get in to see your doctor, you might want to reconsider if that physician is going to be a good fit for you.

Consider Their Hospital Affiliations

While no one wants to think about having to go to the hospital, emergency situations sometimes do arise where you will need to seek treatment that can only take place in a hospital. In situations such as this, WebMD shares that you’re going to want to ensure that the doctor you see is affiliated with the hospital you’re likely to be seen at. By picking a doctor that’s approved for work at the hospital you’ll be in and is covered by your insurance, your life will get a whole lot easier at a time when easy is what you’ll desperately be looking for.

If you’re looking for a new primary care physician in your area, consider using the tips mentioned above to help you find just the doctor you’ve been looking for.