Just changed my primary care physician

[Sheldon]

I just changed my primary care physician and it wasn't easy emotionally. I
really like my doctor and he has an excellent reputation, but the office,
especially the receptionists was driving me crazy. Ask her to make a copy
of something in your records and you might get it in a month. The doctor is
so busy now you can't get to see him for two weeks. My girlfriend mentioned
my concerns to him the last time she saw him and he had no comment, so I can
only assume he is trying to cut back his patient load and is now glad I'm
gone.

I asked a few friends about who to see and got a recommendation. Made a
meet and greet appointment yesterday and was able to see him today, plus
number one. I had to wait awhile to see him but the staff was great,
offered me water, tea, whatever, plus number two. Finally saw him and we
hit it off. He went over my medications and questions and was more in line
with me than my now old doc, plus three. Takes my insurance. Plus four. I
could go on and on but let's just say I'm happy and glad I made the
switch -- so far.

Let's just say if you are unhappy with your doc -- for any reason -- don't
be afraid to switch. Just make sure to follow the wingwalkers rule: Don't
let go of one thing till you've grabbed onto something else.

[Mary]

Post by Sheldon
I just changed my primary care physician and it wasn't easy emotionally. I
really like my doctor and he has an excellent reputation, but the office,
especially the receptionists was driving me crazy. Ask her to make a copy
of something in your records and you might get it in a month. The doctor
is so busy now you can't get to see him for two weeks. My girlfriend
mentioned my concerns to him the last time she saw him and he had no
comment, so I can only assume he is trying to cut back his patient load and
is now glad I'm gone.
I asked a few friends about who to see and got a recommendation. Made a
meet and greet appointment yesterday and was able to see him today, plus
number one. I had to wait awhile to see him but the staff was great,
offered me water, tea, whatever, plus number two. Finally saw him and we
hit it off. He went over my medications and questions and was more in
line with me than my now old doc, plus three. Takes my insurance. Plus
four. I could go on and on but let's just say I'm happy and glad I made
the switch -- so far.

It is very difficult to change doctors, especially a family doctor as you
see them for everything except when they refer you to specialists, so you
usually know family doctors the best and stay with them the longest. But you
will be happy to get away from the receptionists who are not always very
efficient and makes you wonder why the doctor puts up with them. I was
seeing an arthritis specialist a few years ago, and the specialist was ok,
but the receptionist was a very difficult person to get along with and you
would think she was the boss and not the doctor. I even dreaded making an
appointment since I had to go through the receptionist. Eventually, I needed
to get a specialist closer to where I live, so I asked a woman in my condo
building if she knew of someone and she gave me the name of her specialist
and that was 4 years ago and I like him fine. But finding a specialist is
usually easier than finding a family doctor where I am located at least.

Post by Sheldon
Let's just say if you are unhappy with your doc -- for any reason -- don't
be afraid to switch. Just make sure to follow the wingwalkers rule: Don't
let go of one thing till you've grabbed onto something else.

You will have to see how it goes. Time will tell. Usually you have to hang
on to a primary doctor till you find someone else. its a big step. Hope
things continue to go well for you on that front.

Mary

[Sheldon]

Post by Mary

Post by Sheldon
Let's just say if you are unhappy with your doc -- for any reason --
don't be afraid to switch. Just make sure to follow the wingwalkers
rule: Don't let go of one thing till you've grabbed onto something else.

You will have to see how it goes. Time will tell. Usually you have to hang
on to a primary doctor till you find someone else. its a big step. Hope
things continue to go well for you on that front.
Mary

Thanks, Mary. I hope so, too. It will be interesting to see if I get any
feedback when my new office asks for my records.

[Mary]

Post by Sheldon

Post by Mary

Post by Sheldon
Let's just say if you are unhappy with your doc -- for any reason --
don't be afraid to switch. Just make sure to follow the wingwalkers
rule: Don't let go of one thing till you've grabbed onto something else.

You will have to see how it goes. Time will tell. Usually you have to
hang on to a primary doctor till you find someone else. its a big step.
Hope things continue to go well for you on that front.
Mary

Thanks, Mary. I hope so, too. It will be interesting to see if I get any
feedback when my new office asks for my records.

Yes it will.

[weeks]

Sheldon,
Glad this change seems to be for the best.
smiles,
Elise

Post by Sheldon
I just changed my primary care physician and it wasn't easy emotionally. I
really like my doctor and he has an excellent reputation, but the office,
especially the receptionists was driving me crazy. Ask her to make a copy
of something in your records and you might get it in a month. The doctor
is so busy now you can't get to see him for two weeks. My girlfriend
mentioned my concerns to him the last time she saw him and he had no
comment, so I can only assume he is trying to cut back his patient load and
is now glad I'm gone.
I asked a few friends about who to see and got a recommendation. Made a
meet and greet appointment yesterday and was able to see him today, plus
number one. I had to wait awhile to see him but the staff was great,
offered me water, tea, whatever, plus number two. Finally saw him and we
hit it off. He went over my medications and questions and was more in
line with me than my now old doc, plus three. Takes my insurance. Plus
four. I could go on and on but let's just say I'm happy and glad I made
the switch -- so far.
Let's just say if you are unhappy with your doc -- for any reason -- don't
be afraid to switch. Just make sure to follow the wingwalkers rule: Don't
let go of one thing till you've grabbed onto something else.
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[Tennessee Tony]

Post by Sheldon
I just changed my primary care physician and it wasn't easy emotionally. I
really like my doctor and he has an excellent reputation, but the office,
especially the receptionists was driving me crazy. Ask her to make a copy
of something in your records and you might get it in a month. The doctor is
so busy now you can't get to see him for two weeks. My girlfriend mentioned
my concerns to him the last time she saw him and he had no comment, so I can
only assume he is trying to cut back his patient load and is now glad I'm
gone.
I asked a few friends about who to see and got a recommendation. Made a
meet and greet appointment yesterday and was able to see him today, plus
number one. I had to wait awhile to see him but the staff was great,
offered me water, tea, whatever, plus number two. Finally saw him and we
hit it off. He went over my medications and questions and was more in line
with me than my now old doc, plus three. Takes my insurance. Plus four. I
could go on and on but let's just say I'm happy and glad I made the
switch -- so far.
Let's just say if you are unhappy with your doc -- for any reason -- don't
be afraid to switch. Just make sure to follow the wingwalkers rule: Don't
let go of one thing till you've grabbed onto something else.

Switching Drs. is a big deal, I changed my shrink and my primary care
physician a few months ago and yes I postponed my old Dr. appointments
until I saw the new ones. Actually instead of Drs. they are both nurse
practitioners. They seem to care more than a Dr. They are younger and
*fresh*, not burnt out like many Drs. As far as busy, 2 weeks is
nothing. I'm used to up to 2 months wait for a Dr. appointment unless
it's made in advance when leaving my last visit, even then it would be
difficult to see them sooner than 1 month unless it was something
urgent. I accidentally let my medicare insurance supplement lapse on
1/1/11 and had to cancel 2 January appointments. Although I had my
insurance straighted out by 1/17/11, I have my first available
appointment with my therapist on 2/23/11 and my shrink on 3/15/11. The
shrink did call in my Rx's so I'm OK there.

[Sheldon]

Post by Tennessee Tony

Post by Sheldon
I just changed my primary care physician and it wasn't easy emotionally.
I
really like my doctor and he has an excellent reputation, but the office,
especially the receptionists was driving me crazy. Ask her to make a copy
of something in your records and you might get it in a month. The doctor is
so busy now you can't get to see him for two weeks. My girlfriend mentioned
my concerns to him the last time she saw him and he had no comment, so I can
only assume he is trying to cut back his patient load and is now glad I'm
gone.
I asked a few friends about who to see and got a recommendation. Made a
meet and greet appointment yesterday and was able to see him today, plus
number one. I had to wait awhile to see him but the staff was great,
offered me water, tea, whatever, plus number two. Finally saw him and we
hit it off. He went over my medications and questions and was more in line
with me than my now old doc, plus three. Takes my insurance. Plus four.
I
could go on and on but let's just say I'm happy and glad I made the
switch -- so far.
Let's just say if you are unhappy with your doc -- for any reason -- don't
be afraid to switch. Just make sure to follow the wingwalkers rule: Don't
let go of one thing till you've grabbed onto something else.

Switching Drs. is a big deal, I changed my shrink and my primary care
physician a few months ago and yes I postponed my old Dr. appointments
until I saw the new ones. Actually instead of Drs. they are both nurse
practitioners. They seem to care more than a Dr. They are younger and
*fresh*, not burnt out like many Drs. As far as busy, 2 weeks is nothing.
I'm used to up to 2 months wait for a Dr. appointment unless it's made in
advance when leaving my last visit, even then it would be difficult to see
them sooner than 1 month unless it was something urgent. I accidentally
let my medicare insurance supplement lapse on 1/1/11 and had to cancel 2
January appointments. Although I had my insurance straighted out by
1/17/11, I have my first available appointment with my therapist on
2/23/11 and my shrink on 3/15/11. The shrink did call in my Rx's so I'm
OK there.

In many countries nurse practitioners are the norm. You see a nurse, and
then see a doctor only if necessary. The problem occurs when the nurse
works for a doc who thinks he's God and won't let the nurse do anything.
That was the problem in the office I was in. She couldn't make a decision,
no matter how small, and it lead to miscommunication and no communication
with me. What's the point of a nurse practitioner if she has to go over
everything with the doc? Might as well go straight to the doc, if you can.