Do you have a Primary Care Doctor?

Might be a silly question but WTH.

I have been with the same PCP for over 10 years and have a great relationship with him, he knows me well, despite the large number of patients he sees daily. He's also my Cardiologist now. But as i mentioned elsewhere i am going to start working with a new, more holistic Cardiologist, and feel i cant just disappear, i owe it to my current PCP to let him know. He wont care financially, but i just think its the right thing based on our relationship. It will be awkward, but has to be done.

Anyway, i was thinking i'd like to ask him to continue as my PCP, just not as my primary Cardiologist. But that got me thinking. Does an educated medical consumer really need a PCP in this day of specialists? If i have what might be a serious thing, i can find the right specialist. If i have a cold, or the flu, or a virus, and need some meds, i can always to to a walk in center, they're all over the place.

Am i thinking outside the box, or am i an idiot?
Does anybody else think in these terms or does everyone still have a PCP?

My HMO requires a PCP and I find one helpful in navigating medical issues. She helps me figure if there is an issue needing a specialist and which one to see.

and she does all my routine meds, tests and so on. I find it useful to have one doctor helping to coordinate all care. I don't like being the subject matter expert on all things medical, so I rely on her to be my resource for health issues.

And my HMO requires referrals to specialists be made by a PCP.

Heck no , you don't need no stinkin' PCP, just hop on a forum like this related to your specific disease and you will know more about it than your PCP in short order..or at least think you do. You may even surpass the knowledge of your chosen specialist. :)

We are on a PPO plan but both have the same PCP. (We pretty much think along the same lines as Andrew.) We rarely see her for anything more than annual physicals, but every specialist we see supposedly sends reports to her. She's been a good resource for us and has steered us in the right direction when specialists were needed. And we like the idea of at least one MD having the "whole picture".

That said, it is impossible to get an appt with her for an acute illness, so we do rely on walk ins and urgent care for things like that.

I think I'd keep this guy as my PCP. You've got an established history with him and I can't imagine that it will be a problem that you're seeing a different cardiologist.

I didn't have a PCP for three years since Prostate Oncology Specialists was (sorta) serving in that role. But as I thought about it, I decided I did need someone that would (hopefully) get to know me that I could go to for all the normal stuff you mentioned. I think there's some better continuity there--or at least there should be--versus the walk-in center.

But that also assumes you're fairly happy with your PCP. I suppose I've had 5 or so over my life and it's been a mixed bag. I think it's actually easier to find a specialist than an internist as there just doesn't seem to be good data when it comes to an internist.

Some good points made. So I wonder how my PCP will react when I tell him that I a very interested in a holistic/integrative medicine approach to my cardiac issues, and I've found a Cardiologist also board certified in Integrative Med, and I'd like him to remain my PCP while I move my cardiac monitoring and care to the new Dr.

Hmmmm. Wonder if he'd say no to that arrangement.

A PCP is important if you find someone you can trust.I have had a few PCPs but only one I trust, at least she listens to me. brief explanation, been the brain tumor route already. 3 PCPs basically called me nuts, hypochondriac ect. explains
' Question Everything; I hope. Fired one PCP due to his superiority complex, his way or disregard. I respond or have odd symptoms to a lot of stuff. get someone you can trust. all this board stuff is great information but is it any better than some recent teaching? Intuition
may be best.

In my employee plan, I don't need referral to a specialist, but that does not mean they will pay if the specialist says it is not his area. I must be cautious to go there on my own.

My GP knows me better than all the specialists. He sees all the "simple" issues that don't fall in a specialist bucket. Yet.

I will stay with my GP, as I am not limited to the affliction of PCa, and my urologist does not diagnose flu or dog bites.

Might add that my GP was the one that got my RT bladder damage assigned as a side effect of the ART from PCa treatment when the insurance company wanted to make it a new (and thus less covered) illness. Saved me many thousands of dollars.

Yes, my insurance company sucks the rear one, but it is what I have.

It took a long time for me to find a PCP that I was really happy with so NOW I tend to think they are important. This Dr. got to know me pretty fast and is very good at gently nudging me towards tests and treatments that may be important, he seemed to know right away that I am reluctant to take meds and do a lot of tests, that my preference is to not keep looking for problems. He has found a way to educate me and give me time to come around to a decision.

So far as whether your Dr. would have any problem with you changing to a different cardiologist, I would think that will tell you a lot about your PCP. If my Dr. thought I was making a mistake with seeking treatment he would explain to me his concerns but make me feel as though he will be there regardless should I change my mind. I've had other Drs. scold me for not coming back to them, or seeking Drs. elsewhere without their ok, I do not stay with those Docs very long.

Just to be clear, and to Big Mac's point.... i have no issue with making a decision to switch cardiologists if i think its in the best interest of my long term health. I would never let a Doctors feelings stop me from doing that. Its just that after many years, I have developed a real rapport with my PCP who also happens to be a board certified cardiologist. So it could be a difficult conversation.

With that said, early in the process of diagnosing and treating my CAD, i did see another cardiologist for a second opinion on doing an angiogram, and another for second opinion on the serverity and best treatment of my situation, and both times i did tell my PCP/Cardiologist about those visits. To his credit, he said he knows how i am, and if it gave me piece of mind it was worth seeing them and he was glad i did. He also said "i dont have any ego in this, I'm glad you did it."

But taking the cardiology care out of his hands is a little different. Still i need to do what i think is best for me. So I'll figure out how to handle it.

I've had the same primary care physician for over 25 years. He's been there for everything from the kids' broken arms through my two cancer situations and everything else. I think a PCP is a vital part of my health care network.

For my personal situation, on reflection, I'm still considering whether to make the switch. There are so many conflicting opinions out there on CAD, and even the new Cardiologist stated, "look, i have my approach and my opinions, i may be right, or others who disagree with me may be right. Nobody really knows, but i have conviction in my approach".

If i do make the swtch to new Cardiologist, I will ask my current guy if he is willing to continue as my PCP, which i am sure he will, and i would make it a point to see that he continues to get copies of all test results.

One thing that was said in this thread makes a lot of sense (not just one thing).. It is a good idea to have a PCP who has all the data in one place and can be the quarterback if necessary.