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How to research best doctor's?

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Posted 4/11/2022 6:59 AM (GMT 0)
How do you all research the best doctor's in an area?.

I am preparing to go to Colorado (Colorado Springs, Denver, Pueblo...I will drive to them) for awhile and I need to make sure I have a good GI up there in case something goes wrong. The PCP and the last GI that I was working with up there have moved. They we're supposedly building a Colorado team for me so that when I went to stay there this summer we'd have everything set up. No notes in my chart and no doctor recommendations-so no one has any thoughts on it. So now I start over from scratch--but this time I need to find them plus an infectious disease doctor, nephrologist, urologist, and Colo rectal surgeon.

My Texas GI and/or Colorectal surgeon do not have any recommendations.... But they think it's very important to have a plan B for up there in case things go south. If I can get GI, CRS, ID, then I can work on the rest.

Any ideas? Thanks all for your help!!

Clo
Posted 4/11/2022 1:39 PM (GMT 0)
Clo, I do an internet search for the top 10 drs in whatever field I am looking for. Once I get the list, I check them out on Healthgrades & Ratemds. Recently, I discovered Yelp also covers drs, a little interesting to say the least. I then call the drs I am interested in to see if they accept my insurance & this also gives me the opportunity to see how the staff behaves. If they are not friendly on the phone, I scratch that name off of my list. In my state I can also go online & check to see if the dr has ever had a complaint or lawsuit filed against them, not all states allow this.

While in Colorado are you going to be foregoing your Remicade infusions? You had mentioned in a post your gi wants you to have infusions every 6 weeks, plus increasing your dose?

Kudos to you for having the ability to travel!

Good luck in your search.
Posted 4/11/2022 1:57 PM (GMT 0)
Looks like University of Colorado Hospital "might" be the top University/Teaching hospital in Colorado (according to a quick Google) and it looks like they have a ranking GI care program. I'd start there and see who takes your insurance and is available for new patients for the time that you are planning to be there.

You want someone who has experience with complicated cases, so you'd probably find that at a teaching hospital.
Posted 4/15/2022 9:51 AM (GMT 0)
Thanks guys for your suggestions. I haven't started researching yet....but will in the next few weeks.

Thanks again.
Posted 4/18/2022 3:03 PM (GMT 0)
Clo2014,

FYI - Some in-demand GI's have 3-6 month wait lists for new patients - if they will see new patients at all. For my CR surgeon I had to wait 5-6 months to have surgery from the time I decided to have my colon removed before I could be fit into his surgery schedule.
Posted 4/20/2022 3:22 PM (GMT 0)
I don't believe reviews online anymore. My surgeon had excellent reviews and he botched me. I'd just see a few gi and see if I get along
Posted 4/20/2022 4:44 PM (GMT 0)
Keith.... You were right. It's looking like 5 to 6 months before I can get in. 😢. Thanks for the heads up. I made a couple of appointment. I'll ask about their views and make sure they align with mine. The Covid lockdown impacted alot of doctors.... They went from few patients to being overwhelmed. I guess everyone is playing catch up.

Andreita.... I have begun to wonder about that. I am going to ask what thesis/papers/articles or books they have had published.... I think I am going to go to a few support groups in Colorado too. I would prefer not to.. but when people are "person to person" gestures and facial clues might give you an idea if a doctor you are thinking about seeing is any good. I am sorry you had a bad doctor. That's one of my biggest fears. I'll probably check if they have any lawsuits against them-- although with doctors it seems like you are looking for a needle in a haystack.
Posted 4/20/2022 5:29 PM (GMT 0)

clo2014 said...
Keith.... You were right. It's looking like 5 to 6 months before I can get in. 😢. Thanks for the heads up. I made a couple of appointment. I'll ask about their views and make sure they align with mine. The Covid lockdown impacted alot of doctors.... They went from few patients to being overwhelmed. I guess everyone is playing catch up.

Ask to get on their list if there are cancellations, you might be able to get in earlier. DO NOT TELL THEM THAT THIS IS TEMPORARY RElocation.
Posted 4/20/2022 5:42 PM (GMT 0)

Andreita said...
I don't believe reviews online anymore. My surgeon had excellent reviews and he botched me. I'd just see a few gi and see if I get along

The internet sucks. I'm sorry that you had a bad experience but you ended up with one of the best j-pouch surgeons in the World fixing it for you.

I lucked out with my GI, I fired a couple of GIs before him. Now I follow him around from hospital to hospital, whichever practice he moves to. When he told me that if he or his family member ever needed surgery then this Dr. M would be who he used; I didn't look anywhere else for a surgeon.
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