It’s no easy task to select a primary care doctor. And while every situation is unique and based upon the type of practitioner and the patient’s wellness and illness needs, asking the right questions from the start can help you develop a positive relationship with your doctor. Here are some things to ask and take into consideration when selecting a doctor.
1. Who covers for you when you are not on call and if it is necessary to reach you while you are not on-call can that be possible at times?
2. Do you give out your cell phone number to patients and are you willing to receive and respond to text messages?
3. Do you offer your email address to patients and are you willing to respond to email messages.
4. What are the hours that your office is open?
5. Would they be willing to put you in touch with a patient who has been with you for two years or more to contact as a reference?
6. Find out about any specialized training, internships, residencies, board certifications etc.
7. If this practice treats a specific patient population, what is that population? If there are specialists within the practice what are those specialties? Are there types of conditions you do not treat and if so where are these referred?
8 Which hospital or hospitals do you have admitting privileges?
9. What are your thoughts on alternative (i.e. holistic, naturopathic, homeopathic . . .etc) approaches to specific disease entities? Do you have a referral base for these types of alternate care providers or will you be willing to work in conjunction with some that I may already have relationships with?
10. What is the average waiting time that a patient experiences for a scheduled visit to your office?
Denise Caron-Quinn, Founder and President of In Order to Succeed, is an RN with a graduate degree in Nursing and an MBA from Columbia University. One of the things In Order to Succeed does for our clients is help with their health care needs by assisting clients navigate through the maze of complex health and insurance requirements.
Or check out holiday decorations in your nearby city or town, by foot. If you didn’t learn during the height of the pandemic that walking is good for stress and your soul, it’s not too late. You can even refer to this activity with a fancy name, 
In most dorms, the bed and desk will take up the bulk of the floor space, but you can bet there will still be plenty of room on the walls. Over-the-door shoe holders are great for storing your favorite footwear, and they can also double for storing other objects. 
Taking the time to put together organized drawers will save you so much room in the long run. Using acrylic bins is a great way to turn this idea into a reality! You’ll have a specific place for everything, which is the best way to keep your space clean. Make time at least once a week to tidy up your room so that you can ensure the space stays clean. 
Drawers are ideal for dealing with dorm room storage. They keep everything out of your way, but they don’t take up a ton of space. In fact, if you need to, you can even get separate storage cubes and stack them all up. Either way, using several drawers is a fantastic way to store everything. 
