Jerusalem, June 18 — For new immigrants in Israel, understanding the healthcare system can be overwhelming, but physicians from Clalit, the country’s largest healthcare provider, emphasize the importance of building a relationship with a family doctor to navigate the system smoothly. Dr. Benjamin Goldstein, family physician regional director for Clalit’s Jerusalem District, explained that the family doctor serves as the first line of care and coordination between specialists, hospitals, and clinics.
According to Goldstein, patients often return to their family doctor after specialist appointments to ensure that tests, referrals, and follow-up care are properly managed within the system. “The family doctor is your first line for care, your first line for everything basically,” Goldstein said, describing the physician’s role as both caregiver and coordinator between specialists, hospitals and clinics.
A discussion between Dr. Goldstein and Dr. Danna Ekmaty Azria, pediatrician and regional director for Clalit’s Central District, shed light on the community-based model of Israeli healthcare, which is designed around integrated care rather than standalone doctors. Ekmaty Azria stressed that healthcare in Israel is designed around an integrated community-care model rather than standalone doctors. “It’s a full clinic with secretaries, administrative staff, nurses, doctors and often additional services like dietitians, nutritionists and social workers,” she said.
Early findings suggest that many immigrants choose a health fund before fully understanding Israel’s healthcare structure, often without comparing accessibility, clinic locations or language support. The discussion builds on broader concerns raised in an earlier ynet Global feature examining how many immigrants choose a health fund before fully understanding Israel’s healthcare structure.
Ekmaty Azria emphasized the importance of understanding the community-care model, which provides a whole envelope and a whole team who are there to support patients. The community-based model of healthcare in Israel is designed to provide care with the family doctor playing a central role in managing patient care. As new immigrants arrive in Israel, it is essential to understand the healthcare system and build a relationship with a family doctor to navigate the system smoothly.
Consult your doctor for medical advice.
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