When Looking for a Primary Care Provider, What Matters Most?

We all prefer to be treated with compassion, dignity and understanding. If choosing between these options seems difficult, then Providence might be the best option, offering the best of all health worlds combined with award-winning care.

With 11 hospitals and more than 100 outpatient locations across Southern California, Providence provides comprehensive, easily accessible and convenient care when and how our patients want to receive it. That said, Providence family physician Daniel Kim, M.D., who has practiced for 23 years at Providence St. Jude Heritage Medical Group in Fullerton, states the secret to finding a good provider is actually pretty simple. Find one who provides excellent clinical care, with compassion and empathy.

“Giving excellent, quality care – it’s at the heart of everything that Providence doctors do,” said Dr. Kim.

Providence’s reach is impressive with a network of more than 8,500 physicians stretching from the High Desert, across Los Angeles and to South Orange County. However, it’s the philosophy of patient-centered care that makes Providence providers and hospitals consistently ranked among California’s best.

Founded over 160 years ago and steadfast in its mission to serve the poor and vulnerable, Providence also is focused on providing the kind of care patients want, from urgent care to telehealth to technology-enhanced tools, including the Providence app. And while it may seem counterintuitive, Dr. Kim says the use of these technologies has increased Providence’s ability to provide personal care, rather than create anonymity, especially with senior patients.

“By leveraging technology, it helps us take care of the 80% of patients who are comfortable using technology for their healthcare needs. This frees me up to give more personal attention to patients who need or prefer in-person care,” Dr. Kim said.

This personal touch is central to Providence’s goal of improving a patient’s wellness, whether they are just beginning their health journey or are first-time users of Medicare Advantage. Providing primary care for a Medicare Advantage plan member offers clear advantages over many health systems given its reach and depth.

Furthermore, Dr. Kim says that a Providence primary care physician can serve as a “health concierge” to help new patients navigate a sometimes-confusing landscape of care. And because Medicare’s and Providence’s goals are aligned – centered on patient wellness – the first appointment with a Providence doctor will help take the guesswork out of short- and long-term health goals. “We’ll focus on how to be healthier and show you what people are eligible for,” Dr. Kim said.

Many of us neglected wellness care in the past few years as the COVID-19 pandemic kept us at home. For many recent Medicare recipients, the focus was more on serious and immediate health matters than choosing a primary care provider who was the perfect fit. With the pandemic waning and vaccination rates increasing, options for care are more varied and accessible. It’s an excellent time to reevaluate your health plan coverage, including your network of care (doctors and hospitals).

“Some people feel a Medicare Advantage plan limits their healthcare choices. But by choosing a primary care doctor in our group, you have all the resources of Providence available to you, so our doctors can provide everything you need within our network,” said Dr. Kim, who summarized Providence’s role as both a patient care-focused and health coverage leader when coupled with a Medicare Advantage plan.

“Everybody’s been overwhelmed since the start of the pandemic – physicians and patients alike. At the end of the day, I can choose to go home, or I can choose to respond to every patient and take care of all of them. I think every doctor here, without exception, would do the latter – I think that’s reflective of the way you can expect to be treated by any doctor at Providence.”