If you have arthritis or break a bone, you visit an orthopaedic surgeon. If you’re experiencing allergies, you might see a rheumatologist. Feeling blue or anxious? Chances are you’ll schedule an appointment with a psychiatrist.
Most doctors specialize in a particular body part or condition, but when you want comprehensive health care for you, your spouse and even the kids, a family physician is key.
And for Dr. Benjamin Goold, the newest member of the Grays Harbor Community Hospital team, caring for families is what he does best.
Unlike many doctors who specialize in one area, Dr. Goold offers general health care to all members of the family, no matter their age. “I chose family medicine because I believe that primary care has the best chance of all the specialties to change people’s lives — and their communities — for the better,” he says.
Originally from the small town of Paxton, Illinois, Dr. Goold comes to Grays Harbor straight from his residency at University of Washington Family Medicine — one of the best residency programs in the country. A long way from home, Dr. Goold understands the importance of family and tight-knit communities, which is one of the reasons he’s looking forward to starting his medical practice in Grays Harbor.
“The Harbor is a special place,” he says. “Although I’m just getting started here, I’ve already grown to love it.” With 11 years of training and experience under his belt, Dr. Goold says he’s looking forward to providing top-notch care to a rural community.
“When you look at what patients need in modern medicine — coordinated, patient-centered care with multiple specialists on the same page — the most effective systems to provide that care are like what’s going on at Grays Harbor Community Hospital,” he says. Growing up in a small community, Dr. Goold understands the benefits that access to this type of comprehensive care can have on a community.
While Dr. Goold may not be a specialist in the traditional sense, with his family-focused, patient-centered approach to medicine, he certainly does have his own niche. “If I do have a specialty, it’s in taking care of families,” he says. “Mom, dad and the kids can all take make an appointment, come in and I can take care of everyone at once.”
Able to provide quality care to every member of the family, young and old, Dr. Goold enjoys helping people take hold of their total health. “I enjoy the challenge of taking care of everyone and everything at a primary care level more than being focused on an organ system.”
While caring for patients is Dr. Goold’s top priority, he says treating families isn’t the only thing he’s looking forward to about living on the Harbor. “Grays Harbor is an old place with lots of history and philanthropic organizations who are trying to figure out what makes a small community work in a modern economy,” he explains. “It’s a community and a process I want to be a part of.”
If you’re in the market for a family physician who offers comprehensive care to every member of your family, Dr. Goold is accepting new patients. To schedule an appointment with Dr. Goold, contact Grays Harbor Family Practice at 360-537-6496.
