2024-01-30 06:30:00
The attending physician, also called a referring physician, is often our first contact. For good reason it is THE pillar of our medical monitoring ! In certain cases, however, it happens that the current no longer flows, that our needs evolve or that life imperatives force us to change treating doctor. As Dr Jean du Breuillac, general practitioner and deputy secretary general of the College of General Medicine (CMG), reminds us, “it is essential to choose a treating physician that meets our needs and with which we feel confident“. So how do you find a new professional who suits you and declare it? Let’s take stock.
Reminder: what is the role of the attending physician?
You are free to choose your treating doctor: this may be general practitioner or, more rarely, specialist and practice in an office, in a health center or in a hospital. Regardless, this doctor is usually the one who knows your personal and family history best. He’s charged :
of centralize your medical file ;to ensure the monitoring of your possible pathologies ;of coordinate your medical care and possible multi-disciplinary protocols ; and of supervise the prevention of various diseases through regular screening examinations or vaccinations.
If necessary, he can also give you specific medical advice or refer you to specialist doctors. “He is also obliged to grant you medical appointments, even if a delay often applies,” notes Dr Du Breuillac.
Is it obligatory to have a treating doctor?
In France, it is not not obligatory to have a attending physician, but the French health system strongly encourages people to declare one from the age of 16. Not only do you benefit from better follow-up because your doctor knows you well. But you also optimize Health Insurance reimbursements: Social Security allows for better management of your expenses if you consult your general practitioner as part of a coordinated care pathway (70% of the price of the consultation reimbursed instead of 30% if you go through another doctor).
Can I go to a doctor other than my treating doctor?
“He is entirely possible to consult another doctor than his attending physician, assures Dr Du Breuillac. Some students or workers do not have much of a choice when they have to leave their city of residence for a longer or shorter period of time. On the other hand, if you systematically make appointments with other doctors and never consult your treating doctor, you might need to consider changing it.”
Please note: a declaration from a treating physician is valid for life. In other words, even if you have not consulted your GP for four or five years, he remains your attending physician !
When and why change treating doctor?
Several reasons may lead you to want to change your treating doctor:
your treating doctor retires without a replacement to take over his patients;you move and wish to find a treating doctor closer to your new place of residence; you don’t feel not or no longer comfortable with your treating doctor, communication is difficult and you disagree with their approach; you meet accessibility issues, whether in terms of availability of appointments, location of the medical office, or other logistical constraints; you develop health problems that require the expertise of a doctor with better knowledge of your pathology or a network of specialists more suited to your needs; etc.
Regardless, don’t make this decision lightly: it’s important to take the time to choose a new primary care physician who meets your medical needs and with whom you feel comfortable discussing your health. !
How to find a new treating doctor?
As stated above, you are free to choose the treating doctor you like. Some people prefer to choose a practitioner close to their home while others prefer a practitioner who practices further away but with whom they get on better.
At any rate, he must give you his consent to be your treating doctor ! “This is often where things get complicated. Many doctors are overwhelmed, lack time and no longer accept new patients who they might not take care of properly,” he emphasizes.
To find a new treating doctor, ask your loved ones for adviceyour pharmacist or other healthcare professionals, contact different firms and ask if doctors are available, browse online directories or forums…
Instructions for use: what steps do you need to take to register a new attending physician? Where to find the form?
Changing your treating doctor is a very simple procedure, as long as you have obtained the practitioner’s agreement, warns Dr Du Breuillac. Concretely, two options are available to you:
Change treating doctor during a consultation with your new doctor. In this case, your new treating doctor will make an online declaration to Health Insurance during your consultation using your Vitale card. “This is the quickest and simplest option: the change is taken into account immediately,” specifies the general practitioner. Change your treating doctor by mail. This is a less common option, but it is possible to declare a new attending physician by completing the “Declaration of choice of attending physician” form (Cerfa 12 485*03 or S3704b). “In this case, you must complete and sign the form yourself, have it signed by your new treating doctor then send it by mail to your cash register“, notes Dr Du Breuillac. Please note: the change will be taken into account from the date of appointment of the new attending physician.
Is it necessary to provide specific supporting documents?
“You do not need to justify your choice, replies the general practitioner. Your new doctor can ask you the question orally, but you will only need to provide no proof to support your new statement.”
Should you notify your former treating physician before the new declaration?
You are not required to inform your previous treating doctor. IF you are not on bad terms with him, it may however be better to warn him so that he can organize himself and possibly accept a new patient!
Change of treating doctor: remember to retrieve your medical file if necessary!
“Changing your treating doctor is a purely administrative act which is registered with Social Security. This has no impact on our medical file: it is not transferred automatically!“, warns Dr Du Breuillac. And to clarify: “It is not obligatory to retrieve your old medical file when you change treating doctor, especially if you have not had major health problems.” If you want to recover it, contact your former treating physician and ask for a copy of your file.
How many times can you change your treating doctor?
In theory, you can change your treating doctor as many times as necessary without justifying yourself. In practice, be careful not to fall into medical nomadism!
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