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

[Kitty 34]

I would have said doctor but I haven't seen a doctor (except obviously my lung specialist) in years. I have been going to my PA for years and years. She knows me well, has been through my medical ups and downs since the mid 90s. She even was the one who talked me into getting my weekly infusions for my lung disease a couple of years ago as I sat crying in her office. I never really picked her; she had studied under our long time family doctor so when he retired I just stuck with her.

Well..........this morning I get a call from the office saying my PA was no longer with the Medical group. #1 big shock. Like really, did she die or what. It was very disconcerting. The lady calling me was not interested in my concerns. She wanted me right then and there on the phone to declare another provider. I didn't know anyone else at the office . She gave me Miss A or Miss B to choose from and made it clear that who I choose might not renew the scripts I've been on for years. Um ok, so I choose Miss A, she had an opening tomorrow which was when I was going in to see my now departed PA.

I go to my infusion at the hospital later today and find out from the lady registering me that Miss A is a Nurse Practitioner.

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

I will give Miss A a chance tomorrow. I guess I just thought with the seriousness of my medical history (lung disease and high BP issues among others) they would have me seeing a doctor.

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

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

 

[cluvsdisney]

I picked my GP because they are 3 blocks from my office & takes my insurance.

I hope tomorrow goes well for you. If it's any help, my mother sees a NP who is part of a practice with her GP and has been satisfied with the care she receives.

 

[yoopermom]

Word of mouth and in network. And, unfortunately, some trial and error.

It's ok to go once and realize that the "fit" isn't right, it's nothing personal against either one of you. I just changed from a NP to a PA in the same practice because the NP was*not* right for me.

Terri

 

[Micca]

When we moved to our current city I chose my docs based on location. I don't drive more than five minutes to any of them.

Sorry for the way that went down Kitty, not handled in a that leaves you with great confidence in the medical or insurance system.

 

[PrincessShmoo]

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

I belong to a Health Plan, and (years ago) when I joined, you basically saw whichever doctor was available when you made the appointment. It wasn't a big thing to me, as I grew up as a military child and, often, saw a different doctor every time I went.

Forward a few years, the Health plan now allows us to "pick" a specific doctor. At the time I was pregnant, and had been able to see the same doctor for the entire pregnancy. I liked her, so I picked her. Still with her 25+ years later.

In our plan, if/when the doctor is no longer available (retires, moves to another practice, whatever), they will tell us which doctors are accepting patients, and we can see as many of them as we want before selecting one.

 

[gwynne]

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.

 

[kiddo76]

All3 of my regular providers are NPs (primary, Gyn, and Psych) and were referred to me by other providers. I feel like NPs have more time to focus on patient care than M.D.s and don't see much difference between a NP and PA.

 

[bakerworld]

I picked people who I used to work with - problem now is we're all getting old. My original OB/GYN retired, the next one died early and now I use the NP but I know the one other guy in the group so I went to him when I needed a procedure. The only other full Dr in the group neither of my girls like so IDK what I'm gonna do when everyone either dies or retires. Ditto GP and Dentist. The Dentist is really alarming because I have soft teeth with old lead fillings. When my mother was in this position she just stopped going ... until she was in so much pain she had to go to someone.

 

[kirstenb1]

I chose our primary care doctor based on location. However, I have been seen for many years by a nurse practitioner for my annual women's checkup. I don't know the exact requirements to be an NP, but I know they can write prescriptions, which puts them pretty far up the chain, imho. Sorry you aren't able to see your PA any longer. Change is hard, and especially related to a chronic medical condition. I hope this new person works out well !

 

[Pea-n-Me]

Kitty, a PA and an NP are on the same level. Neither is a physician. But they are probably practicing with one. With your chronic lung issues, personally, I'd think you'd want to be working with a physician overseeing ALL of your care (i.e. driving the bus), but it is likely you'll also sometimes see a PA or NP at times, too.

To answer your question, it seems I am always looking for new specialists, especially for some health issues my mother has had in the past few years. (Though we've had the same primary team for over 30 years.)

I look at who is available and what their credentials are, where they went to medical school and where they did their internships and residencies, fellowships, etc. as well as whether they are board certified. I also like it if they include some personal information about themselves as it just helps me get to know them a bit and think about whether it would be a good fit for us. I've had pretty good luck that way. Usually the practice's website will have that information.

 

[RogueX]

For my general practitioner, I chose her based on my insurance coverage and location to my house.

My neurologists, however, are much more complicated. I started in Boston and was essentially told that I was an untreatable patient due to the extent of my migraines. I ended up at a local neuro. to try and manage some of the symptoms and have another neuro an hour and half away who is now managing my migraines.

 

[sonnyjane]

I picked my GP because they are 3 blocks from my office & takes my insurance.

Same. I honestly hate them but for what I need, it's perfectly adequate. The doctor I used to go to and really liked left the state a few years ago so I just picked the next person accepting new patients. I live in a pretty small town so not many options.

 

[kaytieeldr]

I go to my infusion at the hospital later today and find out from the lady registering me that Miss A is a Nurse Practitioner.

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

It would probably surprise a lot of people to learn that a Nurse Practitioner "outranks" a Physician Assistant. An NP can actually open their own practice (or group practice) without the involvement of a Physician (I researched this several years ago, not specifically for this thread.) Somewhat different training.

How I chose my current physician/practice: I used the insurance company's information, and there are websites where you can get patient ratings of doctors. My doctor is (now) Chief of Medicine, but really, I chose him because your physician should be younger than you, so likely to outlive you.

I see him once or twice a year, usually just for my physical but also once when I thought I cracked some ribs. That visit surprised me, as I had made the appointment with the really great NP.

A few years ago, my insurance changed and the practice I had gone to for years and years didn't accept that plan. I had been mainly seeing one specific NP, who left a few months before. Some silly thing about her husband's job transferring him a thousand of so miles away.

Anyway, I chose my current physician because he is part of Lahey Health. Well, now it's Beth Israel Readiness Lahey Health, what with merged after merger. But even before all the business stuff, Lahey is more of less a one stop shop. Almost anything I need is at one of its two locations.

 

[Meriweather]

I picked my GP because she took my insurance and is close by. I only see her once a year.
My OBGYN is close by, but no longer takes my insurance, I go anyway and the one I see is a NP. Fine with me
The rest are close, take my insurance and we get along alright, although I do not like going to doctors

 

[PollyannaMom]

Well, years ago, I actually had a GP. (I know they're not that common anymore.) But he missed a big risk factor when I was pregnant, and I was switched to an OB/GYN group who specialized in that.

Then after DS was born (and I wasn't planning any more) I wanted a primary who was closer. My MIL liked her doctor, and thought I would too, so she asked her for me if she was taking new patients, and I've been happy there ever since. She's a very laid back, don't panic, type - and I like that about her.

 

[Kitty 34]

Well, years ago, I actually had a GP. (I know they're not that common anymore.) But he missed a big risk factor when I was pregnant, and I was switched to an OB/GYN group who specialized in that.

Then after DS was born (and I wasn't planning any more) I wanted a primary who was closer. My MIL liked her doctor, and thought I would too, so she asked her for me if she was taking new patients, and I've been happy there ever since. She's a very laid back, don't panic, type - and I like that about her.

That's what I LOVED about my PA. Even with just 20 some percent left of my lungs she still always made me feel like I could walk around the world and back. I truly feel that her extreme positiveness has kept me off oxygen longer and has just kept me stronger. Actually a lot of this whole switch over is the fact that I'm losing a strong confident person toward my medical condition. I sure hope Miss A can replace that because it can be really tough for me many days.

I am glad tho that I started this thread because you guys are very positive towards an NP's duties and your relationships with them. As I said I will give her a try.

 

[kaytieeldr]

I sure hope Miss A can replace that because it can be really tough for me many days.

Tell her that.

 

[Pea-n-Me]

I am glad tho that I started this thread because you guys are very positive towards an NP's duties and your relationships with them. As I said I will give her a try.

I love NPs, and am friends with a lot of them. I, personally, prefer an NP to a PA because (nothing against PAs) as a nurse myself, they speak the same language I do. Even though they've advanced, once a nurse, always a nurse. To me that translates to being a certain way at the bedside. Now naturally, practitioners are all individuals and their bedside manners vary. But I like the way they think. One of our doctors was also a nurse who later went to medical school. I didn't know that when I first met her, but knew I loved her bedside manner and later, when our doctor left the practice, we switched over to her. Only then did she tell me she was once a nurse. That was 20 years ago and she's one of the best doctors we have.

 

[VAfamily1998]

I would have said doctor but I haven't seen a doctor (except obviously my lung specialist) in years. I have been going to my PA for years and years. She knows me well, has been through my medical ups and downs since the mid 90s. She even was the one who talked me into getting my weekly infusions for my lung disease a couple of years ago as I sat crying in her office. I never really picked her; she had studied under our long time family doctor so when he retired I just stuck with her.

Well..........this morning I get a call from the office saying my PA was no longer with the Medical group. #1 big shock. Like really, did she die or what. It was very disconcerting. The lady calling me was not interested in my concerns. She wanted me right then and there on the phone to declare another provider. I didn't know anyone else at the office . She gave me Miss A or Miss B to choose from and made it clear that who I choose might not renew the scripts I've been on for years. Um ok, so I choose Miss A, she had an opening tomorrow which was when I was going in to see my now departed PA.

I go to my infusion at the hospital later today and find out from the lady registering me that Miss A is a Nurse Practitioner.

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

I will give Miss A a chance tomorrow. I guess I just thought with the seriousness of my medical history (lung disease and high BP issues among others) they would have me seeing a doctor.

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

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

I didn't. We have an insurance program (TriCare Prime for military retirees) that requires we go to a Military Treatment Facility if there is one within a certain mile radius. I can't remember exactly what the radius is, but we are just barely within it. So we have to drive to a center and were assigned a primary provider there. With no traffic it takes about 35 minutes for us to get there. But where we live, there is almost always traffic so....

We could have chosen a different plan where we could choose our provider and pay a higher amount out of pocket. We are generally pretty healthy and only see the doctor once a year (summer camp physicals) so it's better for us to go with the provider at the MTF.

 

[Mackenzie Click-Mickelson]

Mine was based off of where I went growing up.

I stopped seeing the actual doctor when I was in a pre-teen, I only saw the NP and we specifically made appointments when she was available.

Regardless of who you decide to go with I completely understand wanting to have that comfortability. It's really hard to replace that.