You have a close relationship with your hairstylist, your dog walker, your coffee barista. What about your doctor? Choosing the right primary care doctor for you and your family members is an important step in maintaining your health. Forming a strong partnership with that doctor can mean you also end up with a health advocate, confidant and friend.

“The great privilege of being a doctor is sharing in my patients’ lives,” says Steven Kravet, M.D., president of Johns Hopkins Community Physicians. Dr. Kravet practices one day a week at the Internal Medicine Practice at Johns Hopkins Bayview Medical Center, where many of his patients have been friends and clients for decades. When Dr. Kravet begins an appointment by asking about a patient’s grandchildren or recent vacation, he is getting to know them better as a person, all while getting important clues into their overall physical health and mental well-being.

Friendly Faces

Joe Sufczynski has been seeing Dr. Kravet at Johns Hopkins Bayview for 17 years. It’s a practice that prides itself in always offering a friendly face to patients and forming long-term relationships. Sufczynski first came to Dr. Kravet with his wife. Since then, Dr. Kravet has seen Sufczynski through the loss of his wife, and helped him build a happy and healthy life afterward.

“I have Dr. Kravet to thank for getting me to 84 years old,” says Sufczynski. With Dr. Kravet’s help, Sufczynski has cut salt and sugar from his diet and carefully monitored his medications. And when Dr. Kravet suggested that the social retiree maintain his health by staying active, he took the advice to heart by becoming a volunteer for the Internal Medicine Practice. He now works side-by-side with Dr. Kravet and other providers and staff three days a week, sorting mail, sending out test results and visiting with patients.

“Dr. Kravet told me, ‘I don’t want to see you sitting at home watching television,” Sufczynski says. “It’s good to be busy.”

One Size Doesn’t Fit All

How do you go about finding the right primary care doctor for you? “It’s hard to look on the internet and tell what the experience will be like in the doctor’s office,” says Heather Agee, M.D., medical director of the Internal Medicine Practice.

She suggests asking for recommendations from family and friends you trust. “Just because someone is a good doctor doesn’t mean they are a good fit for you,” says Dr. Agee. If you aren’t feeling a connection after your first visit, it’s ok to make a change. “You don’t have to stick it out,” Dr. Agee says.

Also consider the practice and the health system that the doctor is a part of. How many doctors make up the practice? Are you comfortable seeing another provider for an urgent appointment if needed? What hospital is the doctor affiliated with?

The Internal Medicine Practice at Johns Hopkins Bayview is made up of physicians and nurse practitioners who are Johns Hopkins University faculty members. The team is available when you have an illness, need a routine health test, or want to consult with someone over a health concern. Their goal is to provide high-quality preventative care to treat patients’ acute and chronic illnesses. They are also experienced in diagnosing and treating a variety of uncommon illnesses, with the full backing of Johns Hopkins expertise and resources behind them.

Getting the Most from Your Visit

“Medicine is as much an art as it is a science,” says Dr. Kravet. Understanding the person helps him to understand what to make of the symptoms.

Aside from when you have a health concern, how often should you see your primary care doctor for a check up? Dr. Kravet says there is controversy around the benefit of annual visits for healthy adults. Those with chronic health concerns or risks benefit most from an annual routine visit. If you are very healthy and aren’t on any medications, you may be fine going every two years or longer if no other issues pop up. It really boils down to what you and your doctor are comfortable with.

Dr. Agee often touches base with patients and answers questions between visits with MyChart, a secure website that provides Johns Hopkins patients with up-to-date medical information and connects them with their health care team.

You’ll get the most out of any appointment by coming prepared with a list of questions and concerns, says Dr. Agee. Don’t rely on your memory. “I keep a running list on my phone for my kids’ pediatrician,” she says.

Living Life to the Fullest

Dr. Kravet can’t help but smile when he talks about Sufczynski. “We’ve known each other for many years, through sad and happy times,” he says. Sufczynski, usually social and robust, found himself depressed after his wife’s death. With Dr. Kravet’s help, he found joy in life and love again. He and his “lady friend” Joan now spend their weekends dancing or traveling. Joan also will be coming to Johns Hopkins Bayview to volunteer; she and Sufczynski plan to meet in the cafeteria each day for lunch.

“I take Dr. Kravet as my doctor, and I take him as my friend,” says Sufczynski.

To schedule an appointment with the Internal Medicine Practice at Johns Hopkins Bayview, call 410-550-3350 or visit hopkinsmedicine.org/jhbmc/primarycare.