How to Build a Health Team When You Move to a New Suburb

Relocating to a new place is pretty exciting, but if there’s one thing that tends to sit on the back burner amidst the cardboard boxes and managing, it’s setting up your local healthcare support system. And then one day, you wake up with a stabbing toothache, or maybe a high fever—only then will you start looking for a medical provider, which could lead to more stress, inconvenience, and longer wait times. Building a new health team right before you need them is something you should address as soon as you’ve settled because not only do they give you peace of mind, they also ensure that you receive appropriate and continuous care.

So, first things first: start with the basics. Find a general practitioner, a physiotherapist or chiropractor if needed, and a dentist. If you’re around Melbourne’s eastern suburbs, then looking for new options like Balwyn North Dentists will lead you to nearby clinics open to new patients right in your neighborhood.

Your family doctor, who is a general practitioner (GP), is the core of your healthcare team. They are the ones you go to for routine check-ups and run to for treatment when you get sick. Furthermore, they are also the ones who will refer you to experts for specialized care.

One of the best ways to find one is to seek recommendations from your family or friends. You could even ask your neighbors or post on the local community’s social media group, since their opinions are rooted in real experiences, and the locals can give you more insight regarding the clinics’ treatment and bedside manner.

Additionally, find a clinic that’s within your vicinity, preferably close to your home or at least along your daily route. Once you have found a prospective GP, don’t wait until you’re sick to reach out to them. Contact them and schedule an initial checkup so the doctor can also review your medical history and register you as a new patient.

Once you’ve found your general practitioner, consider looking for the other healthcare professionals whom you see semi-regularly, like your dentist and pharmacist.

Dental care requires regular maintenance and at least two routine visits a year. If you have dental issues, then you may have to see your dentist more frequently. Make sure that the dental practice you’re looking for highlights preventative care and accepts emergency appointments.

As for your pharmacist, find one that is close to home. Introduce yourself and let the staff become familiar with your regular medications, and it’s also ideal if they can offer personalized advice when it comes to buying OTC medicines.

Emergencies can happen any time; they do not operate on a strict 9-5 basis. With that said, you should be aware of your health team’s business hours and which of them accepts emergency cases.

Find out the nearest hospital from your home and, while doing so, check if they have an emergency department. Additionally, it’s also ideal to find urgent care centers or walk-in clinics that cater to conditions that are not life-threatening. Some issues that fall under this category include minor cuts, sudden rashes, and sprains—just in case your regular GP is unavailable.

Your new medical service providers should have access to your medical records. Rather than wait for a medical issue to happen, it’s best to hand over the necessary documents and information to them. Contact your previous clinic and submit the formal request to transfer your records to your new GP. While you’re at it, keep a personal copy of your current medications, allergies, and overall medical history on your mobile phone or secure folder. Having this within your reach also helps out a lot during first-time appointments.

Now that you have your health team, have mapped out your routes, and saved your medical record, make sure to keep all of your healthcare contacts stored in a safe and accessible space. By doing so, you’re saving yourself time and frustration when you finally need to get checked.

It’s even better if you print a cheat sheet with all their contact numbers and information and post the sheet on your refrigerator. List their clinic names, contact numbers, and addresses, along with their clinic hours. If you have insurance, jot it down, including the necessary details and policy numbers.

Setting up a new life in the suburbs can make you forget the medical essentials until you find yourself in the middle of a medical emergency. You don’t have to find all these medical professionals in one day; start small and start today so you can enjoy living in your new home with peace of mind, knowing where to run in case of an emergency.