Many of us are faced with selecting a new physician, because of our annual health plan enrollment process, relocation to the area, or changes in insurance.

We know it isn't easy. Our hope is that Alegent Health can provide you with the information you need to find a new physician. After all, when it comes to your health, you want to make the right choice.

How to choose a primary care physician
What you should know about us
Why you should choose an Alegent Health Physician

How to choose a primary care physician
A primary care physician can be either a family physician, internal medicine physician or a pediatrician. These physicians are qualified to care for most of your healthcare needs. If a specialist is needed, the primary care physician will refer you to the most appropriate specialist.

The idea is to have a primary care physician "managing" your health, so that you are receiving the most appropriate care, in the most appropriate setting. The bottom line is, that this allows one physician to work closely with you, helping to keep you healthy, reduce your chances of illness, and help ;keep your cost down. To find the primary care physician who is right for you and your family, we have six recommendations:.

1. If your health plan is provided through your employer, ask your benefits coordinator at work for a directory of the physicians that are available in your plan. These directories will list the physician names, and office addresses.

   We know you can't choose a physician from a name alone, so at Alegent Health, we provide you with physician profiles that include a photo of the physician, professional education, services provided, and location of the office.

   To help you choose the physician who is right for you, search our physician directory, or call 1-800-ALEGENT (1-800-253-4368) and ask for detailed information profiling each physician's medical background, services, and locations.

2. Call the physician's office where you would like to receive care, and ask if they accept your health plan. If you call an Alegent Health clinic, we will be happy to answer any of your questions regarding a physician's professional or personal background. Here are some questions you can ask to determine if the physician you are about to select is right for you:
   
   
   • How many physicians are in the practice?
   • What are your waiting times for routine care?
   • Which hospitals are you affiliated with?
   • How do I reach you after hours?
   • How many specialists do you have in your network?
   • What services are available in your office, so I don't have to drive allaround town?
   • What types of preventive services do you provide?
   • What are your office hours?
   • Does the physician operate out of multiple office locations?
   
   
3. Seek outside information. There are many public information sources consumers can use to find out about physicians. Check the library for: "The American Medical Directory" or "The Directory of Medical Specialists." Call the Public Citizen's Health Research Group and ask about their publication "13,012 Questionable Doctors". You can also find out which local consumer advocacy groups are rating physician credentials.
   
4. Find out if the physician is board-certified. This means he or she has practiced two to six years post-residency, and has passed a difficult medical education test.
   
5. Ask your health plan provider. Their internal quality measures can often give you information available from patient satisfaction surveys.
   
6. Ask your friends, co-workers and family for their recommendation.

What you should know about us
Alegent Health is a locally owned, not-for-profit company that was formed by bringing together several community hospitals:

• Bergan Mercy Medical Center in Omaha, Nebraska
• Immanuel Medical Center in Omaha, Nebraska
• Mercy Hospital in Council Bluffs, Iowa
• Mercy Hospital in Corning, Iowa
• Community Memorial Hospital in Missouri Valley, Iowa
• Memorial Hospital in Schuyler, Nebraska
• Midlands Hospital in Papillion, Nebraska
• Lakeside Hospital, the only full-service hospital in west Omaha
• More than 40 clinic locations across Nebraska and Southwest Iowa

By working together, we can accomplish so much more than any of us could as single hospitals. It also means we can reduce duplicate services and share resources, which reduces the cost of healthcare.

It's most important to know, that we care first and foremost about you. Our ultimate goal is to improve the health of every person in the community. We are your neighbors and friends, and our health-care professionals have been serving your community for more than 100 years.

Here is what you'll find from our physicians:

• At Alegent Health, our goal is to have you and your physician build a relationship, so that together you are taking the right steps to improve your health. We want you to have more control, and more responsibility regarding your health issues.
• Our physicians are commited to helping you stay healthy. They take the extra time to give you personal attention, to really listen to your concerns, to talk in terms you can understand, and to help you take better care of yourself.
• Our physicians care about what you are saying. By listening carefully, they can better diagnose your symptoms, or offer preventive measures to reduce the incidence of illness. It's a matter of personal care, and that's what you will find from an Alegent Health physician. You are a person first and foremost, not just another patient.
• Our physicians understand that you are busy. That's why you'll find many evening and weekend appointment times available. They also schedule their time appropriately, so you experience same-day service for immediate care, and little or no waiting times for routine care in most offices.
• In addition, many of our offices also provide the full range of services, including lab work, X-rays and a pharmacy, so you don't have to drive all over town.

Why you should choose an Alegent Health Physician
We know you only need one primary care physician, and we have more than 200 to choose from, which makes it easy to find a perfect physician that your family will like and trust.

1. Our physicians are located in more than 100 sites all across town, in neighborhoods like yours, so chances are you are just five minutes away. That makes care more convenient than ever.
2. Our physicians are backed by the leading community hospitals all across the region, so that you have access to the greatest number and the highest quality of resources working to improve your health.
3. Most important of all, we've redirected our energies to providing the most valuable health education and wellness programs, so together we can do the best job of keeping you and your family healthy from the start.

   When you enroll with an Alegent Health physician, you will receive a course catalog from our "University of Healthy Living", featuring all of the free, or reduced-fee classes available to you, such as: walking clubs, water aerobics, healthy cooking, yoga, support groups, disease management, parenting classes and more than 100 others.

   No one else provides you with so many resources, physicians and hospitals working to keep you healthy.

4. We offer the lifetime of services in one system, so we can better coordinate your care. That means you achieve the very best results.