While you may be inclined to shop around for the “ideal” physician, there is new research to suggest that sticking with one doctor might be better for your health and well being. Writing in the British Medical Journal, researchers in England followed over 200,000 patients, ages 62-82. They found that seniors who stayed with the same physician over time had fewer hospital admissions. While there are no definitive conclusions about the reasons for this, it’s hypothesized that a long term physician-patient relationship could benefit both patient well being and physician satisfaction. Plus, with fewer hospitalizations, the costs and pressures on health care systems are reduced. More work needs to be done on these observations, but it may very well be that continuity of care, i.e., having one medical professional follow you over time, is the best medicine of all. See a description of this research Here.