Medical providers

[MeanDean]

Just going to vent a little bit here.

I just received a letter that my cardiologist is retiring.

I seem to get a notice about annually that one of my medical providers is no longer available. (It's usually not retirement. ) People move on... I get it.

And, yeah, I'm old, so I have half a dozen - including specialists.

They either assign me some random person or ask me to pick one of their other doctors or NPs. I guess that's something.

What drives me banana nut bread... how am I expected to make an informed decision when I have nothing but a name to go on?

I get more information picking out where to eat tonight that picking a health provider where my life, is literally, on the line.

Is there some kind of decent customer driven medical practitioner review website?

How are other CFers dealing with selecting your specific medical practitioners?

 

[Clonehomer]

Just going to vent a little bit here.

I just received a letter that my cardiologist is retiring.

I seem to get a notice about annually that one of my medical providers is no longer available. (It's usually not retirement. ) People move on... I get it.

And, yeah, I'm old, so I have half a dozen - including specialists.

They either assign me some random person or ask me to pick one of their other doctors or NPs. I guess that's something.

What drives me banana nut bread... how am I expected to make an informed decision when I have nothing but a name to go on?

I get more information picking out where to eat tonight that picking a health provider where my life, is literally, on the line.

Is there some kind of decent customer driven medical practitioner review website?

How are other CFers dealing with selecting your specific medical practitioners?

My insurance provider has a listing of eligible doctors and background info and pictures for them. Also, the providers typically have a biography of them on their website.

But your best best is to pick one for your next appointment and see how it goes. If they don’t seem right, pick a different one. You’re not married to them by picking them the first time.

 

[kcdc4isu]

Just going to vent a little bit here.

I just received a letter that my cardiologist is retiring.

I seem to get a notice about annually that one of my medical providers is no longer available. (It's usually not retirement. ) People move on... I get it.

And, yeah, I'm old, so I have half a dozen - including specialists.

They either assign me some random person or ask me to pick one of their other doctors or NPs. I guess that's something.

What drives me banana nut bread... how am I expected to make an informed decision when I have nothing but a name to go on?

I get more information picking out where to eat tonight that picking a health provider where my life, is literally, on the line.

Is there some kind of decent customer driven medical practitioner review website?

How are other CFers dealing with selecting your specific medical practitioners?

My Doctor retired last year (and I hated to lose him) and he recommended a fellow doctor at the clinic I go to and I have been very happy with him. I am also older and this is my 4th doc in the 27 years since I moved to my current location.

 

[carvers4math]

My husband’s doctor is 71 so he has been winding down.

Husband is still working but gets all the Medicare Advantage plan crap that doesn’t cover a doctor for 60 miles cause old sick people driving is ideal.

My OB/Gyn moved out of state due to . . . stuff. Got a rec from a friend for a PA that could at least do an annual but it’s a 70 mile drive and hard to get an appointment.

 

[FriendlySpartan]

Just going to vent a little bit here.

I just received a letter that my cardiologist is retiring.

I seem to get a notice about annually that one of my medical providers is no longer available. (It's usually not retirement. ) People move on... I get it.

And, yeah, I'm old, so I have half a dozen - including specialists.

They either assign me some random person or ask me to pick one of their other doctors or NPs. I guess that's something.

What drives me banana nut bread... how am I expected to make an informed decision when I have nothing but a name to go on?

I get more information picking out where to eat tonight that picking a health provider where my life, is literally, on the line.

Is there some kind of decent customer driven medical practitioner review website?

How are other CFers dealing with selecting your specific medical practitioners?

There really isn’t much in the way of review sites that provide any real value. Best options are to find former/current patients and ask their experiences, social media can be a good tool for this.

Another way is to ask providers that you know and trust their opinion however that should also be taken with a grain of salt as it’s usually second hand info or they are responding based on how easy they are to work with which can be very different.

You can also try asking the person who is retiring for their opinion but that’s not always possible depending on when you were notified.

 

[JP4CY]

Mine from McFarland retired maybe 10ish years ago? Erbes.
I told McFarland I want a younger doc as a replacement and one I can "grow old" with.
I met with Dr Stith and point blank asked him if he wants to be in Ames for the foreseeable future and I believed him when he said yes.
For the last 10ish years with him I've been impressed. I can tell he does journal research and explains to me what he read and what he thinks of that and discusses it with me in a real world environment.
Have heard good things about Dr Grandgenett as well.

 

[AgronAlum]

Wait, people can actually get into their regular doctors? "My doctor" is like two months out at almost all times for any type of appointment. Even the pediatricians for the kids are super hit or miss. They always just send you to urgent care.

 

[bozclone]

I hate looking for a new medical provider as much as I hate looking for a new mechanic. It is hard to know the bad ones from the good ones without going through some **** together.

 

[RLD4ISU]

@mean

Just going to vent a little bit here.

I just received a letter that my cardiologist is retiring.

I seem to get a notice about annually that one of my medical providers is no longer available. (It's usually not retirement. ) People move on... I get it.

And, yeah, I'm old, so I have half a dozen - including specialists.

They either assign me some random person or ask me to pick one of their other doctors or NPs. I guess that's something.

What drives me banana nut bread... how am I expected to make an informed decision when I have nothing but a name to go on?

I get more information picking out where to eat tonight that picking a health provider where my life, is literally, on the line.

Is there some kind of decent customer driven medical practitioner review website?

How are other CFers dealing with selecting your specific medical practitioners?

Additional thoughts to add with everyone else:

I've learned to not ask for recommendations, but rather ask who they would go see. And if you know anyone that works in healthcare, ask who they would go to.

 

[CYdTracked]

I try to avoid the doctor's office as much as possible so it hasn't been a big issue for me so far, lol. In all seriousness though I am in my mid 40's and am fairly healthy so I don't have any specialists and only go in for a physical or if I have an emergency or something I can't cure with over the counter medication. My primary doctor left the clinic 2 years ago and I had already seen 2 other doctors at the clinic for either a walk in visit or something simple like getting some stitches removed so was familiar enough to use 1 the next time I scheduled a physical.

I guess if you don't like a random doctor you get when you have to change hope you know someone that can give you a recommendation or role the dice on the next doctor. Not sure there really is a better way to deal with it unfortunately.

 

[CYKXBUT2]

Sometimes you can get good information from someone you know who works at a hospital/clinic. Nurses, administrators etc. Sometimes they say who they wouldn't go to.

 

[Rabbuk]

Just going to vent a little bit here.

I just received a letter that my cardiologist is retiring.

I seem to get a notice about annually that one of my medical providers is no longer available. (It's usually not retirement. ) People move on... I get it.

And, yeah, I'm old, so I have half a dozen - including specialists.

They either assign me some random person or ask me to pick one of their other doctors or NPs. I guess that's something.

What drives me banana nut bread... how am I expected to make an informed decision when I have nothing but a name to go on?

I get more information picking out where to eat tonight that picking a health provider where my life, is literally, on the line.

Is there some kind of decent customer driven medical practitioner review website?

How are other CFers dealing with selecting your specific medical practitioners?

When my pysch providers have moved on I've asked my current provider who they would see if they're still around.

 

[MeanDean]

When my pysch providers have moved on I've asked my current provider who they would see if they're still around.

I got informed via snail mail letter. I won't be seeing her again before she's gone.

 

[Rabbuk]

I got informed via snail mail letter. I won't be seeing her again before she's gone.

Aah shoot is there a nurse at your current provider you trust/see every time?

 

[BoxsterCy]

I actually have my physical 12/11 with my "regular" doctor. Being an Air Force guy he was deployed as much as he is home but now has a new role in the reserve ( or guard) and is supposedly here and present. Still, only got in because someone else cancelled a month or more ago. I almost always see one of the PA's. To see one of the doctors is getting crazy hard.

I haven't seen an actual MD for my Crohn's stuff since my old DR retired (he was my guy for decades). Even before he retired it was taking months to get in. Now I can only get in to see one of the PA's. She's pretty good but not the same as my old guy.

I've had very little in person facetime with an MD the last five years. One physical and a couple 5 minute consults with an orthopedic on a bulged disk, both of those ortho appts were mostly spent with his assistant. I don't even know if he was a PA or NP.

Oh, and my dentist retired to.

 

[NWICY]

I actually have my physical 12/11 with my "regular" doctor. Being an Air Force guy he was deployed as much as he is home but now has a new role in the reserve ( or guard) and is supposedly here and present. Still, only got in because someone else cancelled a month or more ago. I almost always see one of the PA's.

I haven't seen an actual MD for my Crohn's stuff since my old DR retired (he was my guy for decades). Now I can only get in to see one of the PA's. She's pretty good but not the same as my old guy.

I've had very little in person facetime with an MD the last five years. One physical and a couple 5 minutes consults with an orthopedic on a bulged disk, again spent most of two appoints were with his assistant. I don't even know if we was a PA or NP.

Not seeing a Dr=a good thing

 

[BoxsterCy]

Not seeing a Dr=a good thing

Not when you need or want to see one. Can't get in for appts except mostly for PA's for the last five years.

 

[BCClone]

Not when you need or want to see one. Can't get in for appts except mostly for PA's for the last five years.

Local hospital basically only has NPs. They seem to come and go about every 2-3 years, and that's about how often I go into for stuff. So, its usually "get to meet the new NP" when I go in. Generally get the new one since they are the least busy.

 

[ISUCyclones2015]

Knock on wood, I've always had really good success with my doctors I choose though I did switch this year in Chicago from Northwestern to RUSH and have been even happier. The patient care is weirdly great and since it's a learning hospital group I typically get a doctor in training along side and never seemed like I wasn't in front of someone much smarter than me to answer questions.

I usually try to stick with the same group and they give good recommendations within their group plus all the records and tests are all easily there in one app for me and them.

 

[MeanDean]

Knock on wood, I've always had really good success with my doctors I choose though I did switch this year in Chicago from Northwestern to RUSH and have been even happier. The patient care is weirdly great and since it's a learning hospital group I typically get a doctor in training along side and never seemed like I wasn't in front of someone much I smarter than me to answer questions.

I usually try to stick with the same group and they give good recommendations within their group plus all the records and tests are all easily there in one app for me and them.

Yeah, my GP's office sent a letter out this summer. He's gone too. Third one I've had in about 15 years. One of them was assigned to me but left before I even went in for my annual physical.

I was so disgusted with them I was considering switching to the other major medical group in the area. But everyone said they're not good.

So, in fact, I'm picking two new ones. I like the idea of the doctor actually dealing with my issues for a longer period of time. Not like a walk in clinic where their knowledge of your medical history gets little consideration.