There are more than 2,000 physicians in the greater South Bay and Harbor communities of Southern California.  Choosing a physician to care for you and your family may be one of the most important personal choices you will ever make.  Yet, with so many things to consider, it may also prove to be one of the most difficult.  Should you choose one physician to care for your entire family?  Do each of your children need a different pediatrician?  How can you be sure of a physician's qualifications?  We know that the first step on the pathway to health is a good relationship with your physician.

Little Company of Mary wants to help by providing you with the information you need to select the right physician for your needs.  Here's how we can assist you:

• Little Company of Mary is affiliated with two highly qualitative and much respected Medical Groups:  The Medical Institute of Little Company of Mary and South Bay Family Medical Group. Both of these groups have been serving the health care needs of South Bay and Harbor area residents for a number of years and have a wide selection of physicians available.  We've included detailed information about these groups, including physician names and specialties, addresses, phone numbers and business hours.  Additionally, many other fine South Bay-area physicians are affiliated with Little Company of Mary and can admit patients to one or both or our two hospitals (including many physicians with the Unified Physicians of the South Bay Medical Group).  Check your company's open enrollment materials for details.

• Our Physician Search Engine provides you with even more detailed information about each physician, including:  Board Certification, Medical School, plus Internship and Residency details.  Additionally, updated photos of most physicians are included.  We've also provided a mapping feature for each physician, providing you door-to-door driving directions to the physician's office.

• We also offer you a Physician Referral Hotline that can  provide you with additional information about our physicians, can help answer your questions and is available to you offline...24 hours-a-day, seven days-a-week.  The toll-free phone number is (800) 618-6659.

Here are some additional considerations to think about when selecting a new physician for yourself or your family.  Some are things you need to ask yourself, others are questions you can ask the physician's office directly as you go through the process of selection:

• How long has the physician been practicing?
• Is the physician Board Certified in his or her specialty?
• Is it important to you whether the physician is male or female?
• Is the physician's office conveniently located near your home or work place?
• Is the physician's age important to you?
• How long does it take to receive a routine appointment?
• Are the physician's office hours convenient for your needs?
• Confirm that the physician accepts your insurance plan
• Does the physician have admitting rights at either Little Company of Mary Hospital or San Pedro Peninsula Hospital?