An eye-opening experience.
 

I am considering firing my Primary Care Physician, and finding an Osteopath. As you may remember I recently had a pre-op physical for my cataract surgery. This has been an eye-opening experience. I had an abnormal EKG, so I had to be evaluated by a Cardiologist. I have had to postpone the eye surgery for a week in order to give enough time for all this cardio testing.

This whole experience has served to remind me of how much I absolutely hate anything medical. I think part of it is that I don’t feel a sense of trust with the medical community. Being symptomatic of MS for decades, yet no doctor could tell me what was wrong with me, has taken its toll. I know first hand that these people can miss things. Important things. That are plain as the nose on your face. Repeatedly. For years.

I want a doctor who is willing to sit down with me and go over my past medical records. I have ten years worth of test results and reports that I have collected over time, and I’d like to revisit some of it with a doctor before I make a decision of whether to hire him/her or not.

Is that too much to ask?

When you decide to interview a new physician, call it a Meet and Greet when making your appointment.

The doctor then knows what you want, it gives him/her a different approach than looking at you as an automatic new patient.

Bring your records with you, I am sure he/she will take a look at them but will reserve any judgments on your case until you decide to become a patient.

It also puts you on a different level with the doctor from the start. A positive one that says you are an advocate for yourself.:)

Good advice, Aarcyn!


I use that whenever I see a new doc. I make sure that they understand that I am "interviewing" them and I let them know what I expect from them right from the start, so that if they cannot meet my expectations and terms of service, I'll move on.

Marion, make your appointment at the end of the day and let them know you want time to talk...not the standard 15 minute session that doctors so often schedule these days. Ask them to pick a better time for them if the end of the day isn't good, because you want their full attention. You don't want to be rushed and you don't want them to be rushed. They may not want old test results, since things may have changed, but bring them anyway, write down all the questions you want to ask. The doctor may need time to review what you have brought with you or to answer your questions, but a good doctor will understand and get back to you within a specified time frame.

Good luck and let us know how it goes!

before i just had to change to another pcp my dr was a D.O.
she was very good and took time to talk to me, explain things and let me ask Q's.

i hope you find a good match.