Does Your Doctor Listen to You?

Nope, Sherrine, not surprised at all!

You may remember how I'd sing the praises of my wonderful internist years ago...the dr who diagnosed me with Fibro back in 1993. He'd listen thoroughly, look at all my records, discuss the latest research. Talked to me like one human being to another. He also looked for the cheapest and safest treatments. I trusted him implicitly. Very compassionate, and what a sense of humor! My husband even liked him.

Well, he changed drastically about 7 years ago, once he left his solo practice and became part of the huge medical complex we're now stuck in. He suddenly had to keep to those strict timetables and stopped listening or, seemingly, caring. He also got a near-fatal infection which kept him in the hospital for months, so we had to pick a new PCP (she's okay, very much head-in-the-computer the whole time.) He's back, but so different that we're not going back to him.

My hubby will be 65 next month and on Medicare. Of course, he almost never goes to the doctor for anything...the really big change will be when I turn 65 (January of 2020.) I can't wait!

I'm glad you've got such good doctors. They do still exist!!

Debbie

Ljm2014 Medicare isn't a bad thing, actually. Once you get it all the paperwork figured out. There are usually people around to help you with that, too. I pay for a secondary but I'm pretty sure that the insurance co goes in the hole when all is said and done.

My Dr. is great. My only problem with him is he has a bit of a heavy accent and tends to talk too fast so I have to ask him questions if I don't understand. But, he gives me the time I need, has me come in every 3 months assuming I'm doing fine. If not I come in even sooner.

He cares, too. The concern shows in his eyes as well as laughter. I don't usually have to wait too long for an appointment to start but it's hard to get an appt. within a day or so if I get sick. But, I leave a message with his nurse and he usually works me in.

I was in once in the hospital to get an IV (dehydrated) and the nurse said that he had called to check on me. Probably seeing if I went, actually as I'm needle phobic. LOL But, she said he calls every night to see if any of his patients had been admitted and how they are doing. The nurse laughed and said the she told him they would call him but he calls anyway.

Chutz, I was just thinking the same thing you posted. It just occured to me as I was reading other posts to ask what kind of area we live in. Is their a correlation to small rural areas over the big cities? I live in a small rural community. I've gotten angry with my Dr.s sometimes but it's usually because they care too much.

Not so much my specialists who are in the City closest to me. Some are great, some not so much.

Sherrine, I couldn’t agree more. I’ve been seeing an internist for over 20 years. She recently went back to school and became board certified as a lipidologist, which is great for me as I’m 69. A few years ago she changed her practice and went 100% to self pay as she no longer accepts any insurance. She told me that insurance requirements, such as expecting her to limit time with patients to 7 minutes, are absurd as she can’t be a good doctor under those circumstances.

$250 per office visit was more than I could stomach, especially since I have a few health issues, so I changed doctors. Three times. None of the three asked me any questions except those pertaining to my specific complaint that day. After three years, I went back to my no insurance doctor and am I ever happy that I did. I see her for an annual physical once a year, at which visit she spends an hour with me. 2 weeks prior to the visit I go in for labs so the first thing she does at my appointment is to go over my pages and pages of labs and compares them to last year’s numbers. Then we go over my questions, my meds in detail, my mammogram, bone density, and so on and so one. And we review reports from any specialists I’ve seen since my last visit. Her goal is not only to keep me alive and healthy, but to make sure I feel good. Not only that but she has a huge staff that is fantastic.

She really really cares. So if I have to give up a few things in order to pay to see the best, it’s worth it.

I’ve always felt that it doesn’t cost more, if using insurance, to see the top doctors. Someone graduated at the bottom of their Med school class, so we should do our homework and find the best and make sure they listen.