How did you pick your Medical provider? (A little venting in this thread)

[kaytieeldr]

@VAfamily1998, if you're not happy with your assigned physician, you might be able to switch to a different one there. Ask.

 

[bushdianee]

When I was looking to change because my doctor was leaving the area my sister who is a nurse recommended a doctor within the same health system who was only 3 blocks away from my house. Whenever I needed to make an appointment it was usually on an urgent basis like bronchitis so I ended up seeing everybody in the office except her. I saw one more than anybody else and really liked her so I ended up making her my primary. For a few months my insurance dropped that health system so I had to find another doctor. As soon as that mess was straightened out I went back to the doctor I liked.

 

[disneychrista]

My parents picked the GP doctor that I have listed as my PCP but I haven't seen him in 5 + years. And when I do go it has more often then not been a NP.

My Women's Health doctor I picked because I could get in within a reasonable amount of time. I see a NP there also, expect for my bi-annual colposcopy / biopsy. The NP I've been going to just retired so next year it will be someone new.

 

[willowsnn3]

I had never heard of a nurse practitioner, I just thought that my two choices were going to be doctors or possibly another PA.

*****If you are a NP, I don't mean to offend you. *****

So back to the question......how did you pick your medical person?

In my experience most nurse practitioners are better than a physician's assistant.

For years I didn't have insurance so mostly went to clinics. Finally got medicare & a supplement plan a few years ago. Not knowing any doctors, I picked a medical group with 'family practice' in the title. Mainly because of closeness to home and the hours they were open sounded good.
Sooo, never saw a doctor there, only PA's. Was like going to a glorified clinic.
I had them do the pre op workup before my last hip surgery and from the blood work, I was diagnosed as diabetic. Handed a flyer with some information on a website & that was basically it. 90 day checkup was good but still gave me no confidence in the PA. So did some research & found another group, looked up the profiles on their staff & instead of a doctor I picked a Nurse Practitioner who specialized in diabetic care. Fell in love with her on first visit, lol. Sooo, two years later I get a call from the office telling me she is leaving the practice & scheduling me with one of their new doctors.......so I agreed but kept having second thoughts about it so called them back & made my appointment with one of their 'founding' doctors. He is a great doctor but told him he had a lot to live up to, lol. He told me Tammy (the nurse practitioner) had moved to Tennesee and they all missed her a lot.
Long story short, I just feel like a PA is just a warm up/internship before they become real doctors and all the nurse practitioners I have ever met have had a lot of medical experience.

 

[low-key]

I go with women, I think they are better Doctors

 

[disneychrista]

I go with women, I think they are better Doctors

I trust a woman doctor (NP, PA) more.

 

[low-key]

I trust a woman doctor (NP, PA) more.

I think in general they have a better bedside manner, and if they sit and listen to me, I think the odds of them figuring things out just got a lot better

 

[Dan Murphy]

My primary, whom I have seen for about 30 years now, was a referral from one of Marie's aunts. He is very good. I really like when he refers me to various specialists, very good picks. I don't need a referral, I can see any doctor I want. But I do like his knowledge of doctors in various specialties. A few specialists I have researched online, doing a pretty in-depth research. Main one I did a LOT of research on was for my cardiac electrophysiologist, not a referral from my primary. He is the director of the cardiac electrophysiology department at Northwestern Memorial, one of the top hospitals in the country for that specialty. He did my cardiac ablation almost 6 years ago, have not had a single problem since.

 

[elphaba91]

For my GP I started going to that practice because it was open late when I split my chin open while rollerblading in the house (I think I was 9). I didn’t see any particular doctor regularly; if I had a problem I just saw whoever was available. Then last year when I needed to see a doctor my mum recommended I see the doctor she’d made her regular GP; she is absolutely lovely and I trusted her immediately so decided she would be my regular doctor. Unfortunately she is very popular (and has since had a baby so cut back her days) so it can be harder to get an appointment, but she’s worth it!

For my ophthalmologist/oculoplastic surgeon and my oncologist I didn’t actually choose. My GP referred me to an ophthalmologist who could see me immediately and he in turn referred me to my surgeon ‘for cosmetic work’. Fortunately though he was the best person in the country for my condition (which was definitely not merely cosmetic!). My surgeon ended up referring me to the head and neck department of the major cancer centre in my city and my oncologist just happened to be the doctor I was assigned; I’m very happy with her though.

 

[Pea-n-Me]

In my experience most nurse practitioners are better than a physician's assistant.

For years I didn't have insurance so mostly went to clinics. Finally got medicare & a supplement plan a few years ago. Not knowing any doctors, I picked a medical group with 'family practice' in the title. Mainly because of closeness to home and the hours they were open sounded good.
Sooo, never saw a doctor there, only PA's. Was like going to a glorified clinic.
I had them do the pre op workup before my last hip surgery and from the blood work, I was diagnosed as diabetic. Handed a flyer with some information on a website & that was basically it. 90 day checkup was good but still gave me no confidence in the PA. So did some research & found another group, looked up the profiles on their staff & instead of a doctor I picked a Nurse Practitioner who specialized in diabetic care. Fell in love with her on first visit, lol.

Just curious, what made you fall in love with her?

Long story short, I just feel like a PA is just a warm up/internship before they become real doctors and all the nurse practitioners I have ever met have had a lot of medical experience.

Also curious about this. I don't know if most PAs use it as a stepping stone to going to medical school to become physicians, if that's what you mean. I think both PA and NP are worthy careers on their own and they're chosen purposefully because they don't have to go through four years of medical school and have some of the headaches and long hours that physicians have.

 

[VAfamily1998]

@VAfamily1998, if you're not happy with your assigned physician, you might be able to switch to a different one there. Ask.

Thanks. I don't have a problem with the specific provider. The distance is just irritating. The distance/radius with no consideration for traffic/actual travel time...I mean I guess they have to determine limits somehow...It's just I literally live within walking distance of a doctor that accepts Tricare, but instead we have to drive over an hour. If we saw the doctors more often I'd probably switch.

 

[DopeyDame]

Just echoing what some others have said...
If you're comfortable with a PA, you should definitely be comfortable with an NP. They are actually able to work without supervision of a doctor (although most have relationships with MDs/DOs to refer to if needed.) NPs also have experience as a nurse before becoming an NP, while PAs can be direct-entry. So the training for an NP and PA is roughly the same duration, the NPs already come in with a lot of medical knowledge and a BSN.
I'm not at all disparaging a PAs role! Just making the point that an entry-level NP definitely isn't "lower" in training or experience than a PA.
I see my primary care MD every other year or so for a physical. Other than that, I always see the NPs at the office and love them.

But most importantly... if you don't like Miss A, then you can switch! Either to Miss B, or to a different practice entirely. Be honest and open about what you need from your medical provider, and hopefully you can find a great fit regardless of the initials after her name!

 

[tvguy]

I have had 4 Doctors in my 62 years.
My mom was a nurse and my Pediatrician was selected by her based on the recommendations of the Doctors she worked with.
When I was 14, my Pediatrician said it was time for me to move to an "adult doctor". My mom picked that Doctors based on the recommendation of the Doctors she worked with.
I stayed with that Doctor from age 14 to about age 49 when he retired. His (10 years older) partner took over his patients.
I did not like that Doctor, and switched to my current Doctor at age 52 based on the recommendation of a Specialist I was seeing. That Doctor, was my SPECIALISTS primary care Doctor!

My insurance choices are driven by the plans that my Doctor's accept.

 

[Happyinwonerland]

In my experience, an NP likely has more education and hospital experience than a PA. NPs have usually been ICU nurses for several years before returning to earn a doctorate degree. There are some master's degreed NPs but most programs are doctoral level now.

In my state, NPs have a wider scope of practice than a PA and do not have to work under a physician, though many do for DEA purposes (NPs have limited narcotic prescribing power).

 

[Katie Dawn]

I see almost zero difference between a nurse practitioner and a physician assistant. They basically are able to do the same stuff.
Anyplace we've lived a NP or PA has a Doctor they work with or can refer to if a problem is complicated or serious.

Yep. They both work under a doctor's supervision and can do the same things. I've always have Nurse Practitioners and not Physician's Assistants whenever I didn't see the doctor.

Found my current doctor through friend's recommendations.

 

[willowsnn3]

Just curious, what made you fall in love with her?
Also curious about this. I don't know if most PAs use it as a stepping stone to going to medical school to become physicians, if that's what you mean. I think both PA and NP are worthy careers on their own and they're chosen purposefully because they don't have to go through four years of medical school and have some of the headaches and long hours that physicians have.

Lol, maybe love is too strong a word. I just felt very confident that she knew her stuff.

As newly diagnosed diabetic I was terrified. (Remembered from childhood a distant uncle & cousin had diabetes and were always having problems associated with it & knew someone else who had lost a foot due to diabetes).

I know Nurse Practitioner is a career, just thought PAs were kinda like doing more training or accumulating hours required before becoming a 'real' doctor. Never thought of someone choosing it as a career but since you mentioned it, seems plausible.

 

[KayaWildfire]

Lol, maybe love is too strong a word. I just felt very confident that she knew her stuff.

As newly diagnosed diabetic I was terrified. (Remembered from childhood a distant uncle & cousin had diabetes and were always having problems associated with it & knew someone else who had lost a foot due to diabetes).

I know Nurse Practitioner is a career, just thought PAs were kinda like doing more training or accumulating hours required before becoming a 'real' doctor. Never thought of someone choosing it as a career but since you mentioned it, seems plausible.

Being a PA is definitely a career choice. Much shorter schooling compared to doctors, no residency, etc. Most don't go to medical school after being a PA.

 

[snappy]

I tend to rely on recommendations from other medical practitioners, especially doctors I have had a long time relationship with, and especially nurses I respect. GYN doc’s who accept Medicare hereabouts and have experience with breast cancer survivors are few and far between. I found one luckily.

 

[sharona]

I recently switched doctors after many years of being less than thrilled with my GP but just too lazy to do the work to find and change to someone else. I chose the new doctor based on recommendations from our local moms facebook group. I had seen a few others asking for similar advice so I posted what I was looking for - someone who listened, convenient office hours nearby, wasn't always running an hour behind schedule and who had helped others with managing menopause symptoms, preferably a woman. I got a lot of responses. There were a couple of absolutely glowing recommendations for the same local doctor's practice. I checked the insurance website and she was in network so I called and they were taking new patients. So far so good. Very happy with how things have been going so far.

Crowd source - get real reviews and recommendations from real people about the factors that are important to you.

 

[Kathryn Merteuil]

Word of mouth, in network, and accepting new patients.