Look for a family practice doctor who's open, honest, unhurried, and willing to talk to you without talking down to you. If your doctor seems to be on autopilot all the time or is too busy to answer your questions, find someone else who's a bit more interested in you.

A good family practice doctor will have made arrangements for emergencies and night or weekend medical needs. It may be that they're on call, or that they've arranged for their patients to be referred to another facility. Check to see what you're doctor has arranged.

A good family practice doctor should both encourage questions, and take any questions you have seriously. Don't be afraid to ask him or her to explain things to you in plain English, especially if they lapse into jargon. A truly professional doctor won't mind.