FINDING THE RIGHT DOCTOR

Relocating to a new home is a busy and stressful time. While there are many tasks to do as you get settled, identifying a health care provider is essential. Waiting until you’re sick may force you to turn over serious treatment decisions to a doctor you don’t know and doesn’t know you.

As you look for a doctor, keep these attributes in mind:

Trust. You must trust your doctor’s advice about your healthcare.

Communication. Having a doctor you understand and who understands your concerns is vital. Availability. Your new healthcare provider should be accessible, with his/her office near your new home or your work.

In-Network. Is the physician you’re considering “innetwork” for your health insurance plan?

Other considerations include:

• Is the doctor practicing alone or in a group?

• Can he/she admit patients to the hospital you’d prefer?

• Does the doctor accept your health insurance?

• Does the doctor’s office make telehealth appointments?

• Is there a Physician Assistant (PA) or Nurse Practitioner (NP) in the practice should the doctor not be available?

After deciding on your first choice, inform the staff that this is your first visit. Take with you a list of any medicines you are taking and information about family medical history as well as your own. Following the visit, if you feel compatible with the doctor, have your medical records forwarded to his/her office. If this is not the medical provider for you, make an appointment with your second choice. When you are sick, you are more likely to contact and follow the advice of a doctor with whom you are familiar and have developed a rapport.

Immunization requirements for children

Families new to Tennessee are required to have your child’s immunization records transferred to a Tennessee Certificate for daycare, pre-school, head start, or public schools. Parents may bring your child’s current immunization records to the health department or submit them online. You will be contacted when the certificate is ready to be picked up. The Tennessee Department of Health immunization requirements can be found online: TN.gov/health/cedep/immunization-program/.

Williamson County Health Department 1324 W. Main Street, Franklin | 615-294-1542

Monday - Friday 8 - 4:30

Maury County Health Department

1909 Hampshire Pike, Columbia | 931-388-5757

Monday - Friday 8 - 4:30

Register To Vote

As a new Tennessee citizen in Williamson or Maury County, you have the opportunity and the privilege to participate in the election process by voting in local, state, and national elections. All voters must be U.S. citizens. Once you have your new Tennessee home address, you and any eligible person in your household 18 years or older can register to vote. Whether you moved across the country or across town, you’ll need to register to vote or update your address with your county’s election commission.

Voters’ registration forms are available at the County Clerk’s office, Driver Services Centers, any public library, election commission offices, or online at sos.tn.gov. Once you have registered to vote, you should receive a voter’s registration card in the mail, confirming your registration.

Tennessee’s Secretary of State Division of Elections sponsors an app to download on your smartphone called GoVoteTn. This app allows Tennessee voters to find their Election Day polling locations, view sample ballots, see their elected officials, districts and county election commission information, as well as access online election results.

Williamson County Election Commission

405 Downs Blvd

Franklin, TN 37064 • 615-790-5711 williamsoncounty-tn.gov/40/election-commission

Congressional Districts 5, 7

State Senate District 27

State House District 61, 63, 65, 92

Maury County Election Commission

1207A Tradewinds Drive

Columbia, TN 38401 • 931-375-6001 maurycounty-tn.gov/227/election-commission

Congressional District 5

State Senate District 28

State House District 64, 71