I'm not terribly fond of doctors. I now go to a dentist regularly. I see my gyn every year. I've been getting mammograms at least once a year for the last twenty years. My current doctor is fine, but he seems not to want to be a GP anymore, so I haven't seen him in three years. I'm on one medication. Every year I call for a prescription renewal and they send me for a blood test. Then I get my prescription refilled.
Last year, the conversation went something like this. "I haven't seen the doctor in two years. I just turned 50. Does he want to see me?" The answer was "well, I can't think why. If you want to see the nurse practitioner, though, you're welcome to." I passed on that. I knew that was my goodbye call but it's taken another year, when my scrip is running out again, to do something about it.
Years ago, I had a doctor I loved. He was straightforward with me, he did "whole person doctoring" and he was available. He sold his practice to a doctor who is very very good but wants to specialize. As a result, it was very difficult to see her. And her NPs were, to be kind, incompetent. One was also mean and rude. The next doctor lasted one visit -- she worked in a giant bureaucratic doc box. Even though my records had arrived at the box a month earlier, she still didn't have them when I saw her. And they wouldn't give me the records back even though they'd messed up.
My current doctor seemed like a good choice at the time. He specializes in rheumatology, which sounded good for the aches and pains I have. Except that he's a single practioner and he splits his practice between suburbs and Boston. I'm not even sure what would happen in an urgent situation. When Robert had shingles, he never even saw our doctor -- he couldn't get past the NP, who was fine, but not as great as I would have liked.
I decided to seek out a new doctor. A side-note, perhaps amusing to me only. I used to seek out practitioners who were older than me. Now I find myself gravitating towards caregivers who are younger because if I like them, I don't want them to retire anytime soon.
I've spent the last year asking friends for references. Many people mentioned a place nearby that they've been happy with. The practice has about 10 doctors, they're available for regular appointments five days a week and for urgent appointments seven. There are even call-in hours for the inevitable problems that arise in the evening. They have a lot of services on site, yet they're convenient both to work and to the local hospital.
So I finally went for my intake interview today with an NP. She was great, very helpful, very encouraging. And I'll have a physical in July, at which point I'll get to meet my doctor. Now that I'm in the system, if a problem arises, I can actually call someone and speak to a human being -- imagine that.
I know I'm one of the lucky ones. I'm employed. I have decent health insurance. I have a large company that would probably go to bat for me if I needed help dealing with the insurance company. But finding a doctor? Ugh. One of the worst things on the planet. I hope I like this one.
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3 comments:
Yes, finding a good doc is HARD! I hope this doctor works out for you.
I've had a GP for years - have seen her exactly once. I do like her, but it's impossible to see her for urgent visits, and though her NP was fine - not great, not awful, just fine - it was a hassle to get in to see her, too.
I've been looking for someone else, but there are a lot of "full" practices around here. It seems every time I think I have a lead on someone - have a reference and have done a little background check, I call to make first contact and learn they are not accepting new patients. I'm lucky I can rely on hubby for certain things, but even he tells me I should find someone else.
Anyway, good luck. I hope you won't have to go through this process again for a very long time (if at all).
Lots of people have lots of opinions (mostly negative) regarding HMOs. Our experience, however, has been very good. We've been with Fallon for nearly 30 years and with our current primary care physician for about 10.
Part of the Fallon HMO practice includes free annual physicals. About three years ago, during my annual physical, was concerned about a mole that, after a biopsy, was confirmed as melanoma. There's a very good chance that, had I not had that physical, the melanoma would have gone unchecked. I owe my life to that doctor's key eye and to the annual physicals that the HMO provides us.
RB -- It sounds like you are very lucky with your medical care. I am so glad that melanoma was discovered and that you continue to get excellent care.
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