SCIPIO - To trust your life to another individual is an experience that most people are uncomfortable with, yet it is a common occurrence within the unique relationship between a doctor and his or her patient.

People are often with their primary care physician for most of their adult lives and find it difficult to search for a new care provider. The process can be complex depending on your current health situation, what type of insurance, if any, you have, and what physicians are even accepting new patients.

This can even be devastating when a significant population must look for new healthcare as a result of a practice or clinic closing. For example, the Finger Lakes Family Medicine Clinic in Scipio Center will be closing its doors in the near future as was announced in December of last year, by Auburn Memorial Hospital. The clinic was opened in 1996 as an extension of the hospital to serve an area that was federally designated to be without enough primary care physicians.

“A lot of people come here because it is comfortable for them,” said Dr. Linda Simkin, who keeps the busy rural clinic running on a daily basis with a registered nurse and receptionist. “Many are Medicaid or Family Health Plus and only a handful of places will accept them. Their options will be much less than people with other insurances.”

After 21 years as a physician in Auburn Memorial Hospital's emergency department, Simkin took the position at the clinic in 1998 and intends to retire when the clinic closes. While waiting for the official closing date, Simkin and staff are busy assisting patients who need to find another provider.

“We ask people where they want to go, where their relatives go, what insurance they have,” said Simkin. “We're talking in the office on an individual basis and letting them know who is available for them to see.”

Statistics from Cayuga County Health and Human Services for 2005 state that Dr. Simkin had 204 Medicaid claims and 251 preferred provider claims for Medicaid in the category of primary care. While Dr. Robert Kalet, who passed away last October and also had a significant amount of Medicaid patients who needed to find a new provider, submitted 327 Medicaid claims and 495 preferred provider claims for Medicaid under the category of primary care. However, this only represents about 1 percent of the total Medicaid claims in the county.

Elane M. Daly, director of Cayuga County Health and Human Services, advises those on Medicaid to contact the Cayuga County Rural Health Network, where they keep an informal list of physicians in the area who are taking new patients, as well as new Medicaid patients.

“Jim Kennedy at Cayuga County Rural Health Network has that list available for people when they are ready to look for a new physician,” Daly said. “And I know that East Hill Family Medical is taking new Medicaid patients right now.”

Regardless of the type of insurance one has, it is imperative to find a physician that can meet the needs of the patient and that takes some research.

Beverly Miller, director of community relations at Auburn Memorial Hospital, suggests the following to get started: look in the phone book, check the hospital Web site, talk to friends or another physician who is a specialist that you may see occasionally.

“The first thing I would do is call some of my friends about who they see and ask for a recommendation,” said Miller, who believes it is a good idea to find a doctor on the hospital medical staff, because they will have admitting privileges which is beneficial to the patient.

“If someone wants to know if a doctor is accepting new patients they can call Melanne DiLallo, the medical staff coordinator at the hospital,” she said.

Primary care physicians will serve as your main doctor for the long-term and physician assistants, nurse practitioners, and certified nurse midwives are all trained in many areas of primary care. It is important to be informed while searching for a new doctor.

Once a new physician is determined it is equally important to check their credentials with the Medical Society of the County of Cayuga, Inc., which is part of the state network that includes more than 30,000 physicians, medical residents, and medical students.

“As long as the physician is a member we know if they are board certified, where they went to school, and where they did their residency,” said Kathleen E. Dyman, executive vice president of the Medical Society of the County of Cayuga, Inc. “We can give information on their background that would help people make their decision.”

Searching for a new physician

To ensure quality care, one should keep in mind the following

questions prior to and during the search process:

- What are the office hours?

- At which hospitals does the doctor have privileges?

- How long before receiving an appointment?

- If an appointment is canceled is there a fee?

- Does the doctor or nurse give medical advice over the phone?

- What type of insurance is accepted?

- Does the doctor explain things in terms I can understand?

- Did I have an opportunity to ask questions?

- Does the doctor and staff treat me with respect?

- Does the doctor make me feel comfortable?