Gambling on a new doctor
By Judy Evans
@JudyEv (342868)
Rockingham, Australia
August 26, 2021 7:27pm CST
As we have now moved to the suburbs of Perth, Western Australia, we need to find new doctors, dentists, mechanics, opticians, etc. Vince discovered he needs a new prescription in a bit of a hurry so he rang a nearby medical centre which our friends have recently booked into.
He was given a choice of doctors’ names and thought he’d go with a particular one who just happens to be Irish. With our son living in Ireland, he thought it as good a choice as any. But he very quickly changed his mind.
He asked for a double booking (20 minutes) so he would be able to give the doctor details of his hypertension, diabetes, etc, and discuss the medications he is taking. He was told that particular doctor only ever gave 10 minute consultations first visit or not.
We were a bit horrified. How can anyone assess a stranger’s health in ten minutes? Needless to say, he chose one of the other doctors. It’s all a bit of a gamble really.
24 people like this
26 responses
@MarshaMusselman (38864)
• Midland, Michigan
27 Aug 21
Did another doctor allow for the longer visit for him?
I don't look forward to the day when my doctor retires and either find someone else to run his practice or closed making it necessary for us to have to find someone be too.
3 people like this
@epiffanie (11326)
• Australia
28 Aug 21
Could you request for your health records from your former doctor to be sent to the new doctor.?...I think that's what some people do when they move to a new town..
2 people like this
@epiffanie (11326)
• Australia
29 Aug 21
@JudyEv Some doctors do make you feel that you are taking so much of their time, don't they?.. I hope you find a doctor that will give Vince quality time to discuss his health issues..
2 people like this
@JudyEv (342868)
• Rockingham, Australia
29 Aug 21
@epiffanie He will keep looking till he does. It's important he has faith in whoever he sees.
2 people like this
@allen0187 (58582)
• Philippines
27 Aug 21
Hope you get to settle in with all these new people who you will be getting a service from.
Best way to go about it is to get recommedations from your neighbors.
1 person likes this
@allen0187 (58582)
• Philippines
29 Aug 21
@JudyEv good luck.
Hope it is a good fit.
1 person likes this
@DaddyEvil (138372)
• United States
7 Sep 21
That's odd... Doctors here, unless you haven't paid your bills, will continue to allow refills on medication for up to a year after you last were seen by them.
When I changed doctors three years ago the doctor sat and talked with Pretty and I for almost an hour before actually examining me. He was very nice and we liked him. We saw him several times before the pandemic began and he decided to move back to his original home in Mississippi to be near his parents. When he left, he passed my files to a another doctor who shared office space with him. We've been quite pleased with her, as well.
1 person likes this
@DaddyEvil (138372)
• United States
7 Sep 21
@JudyEv A doctor here... at least the ones I'm familiar with, will keep calling in refills for meds up to a year after they gave you the prescription, if its for blood pressure or something like that. If it's for something that will go away, yes, you have to be seen again before they will authorize a refill.
1 person likes this
@JudyEv (342868)
• Rockingham, Australia
8 Sep 21
@DaddyEvil Even with stuff like blood pressure they like to keep a bit of an eye on you.
1 person likes this
@DeborahDiane (40328)
• Laguna Woods, California
29 Aug 21
@JudyEv - That is the hardest part about moving to a new area ... finding new doctors, dentists, car mechanics, etc. I agree that a doctor cannot possibly assess a new patient in 10 minutes. I would have been horrified, too! I hope he likes the new one he chose!
1 person likes this
@DeborahDiane (40328)
• Laguna Woods, California
30 Aug 21
@JudyEv - I'm glad you have plenty of choices. You seem generally happy with your move, although there is a lot to get used to. I've been through it myself.
Our healthcare facility here gives us lots of choices, too, and if we are diagnosed with something, and have questions, we are always allowed to get a second opinion. My doctor has told me she prefers to only discuss three issues in one appointment, but last time I went for my annual physical I handed her my list, with four questions on it. She laughed, and answered them all. I've seen her for years, so we had plenty of time. We were even able to just chat for a couple of minutes.
1 person likes this
@JudyEv (342868)
• Rockingham, Australia
30 Aug 21
@DeborahDiane It depends of course on the circumstances. Some consultations do only take a few minutes but sometimes you feel you'd like a bit longer. It's awful to feel rushed.
1 person likes this
@DocAndersen (54402)
• United States
27 Aug 21
of course the sad reality of that gamble - it is Vince's health!
Doctors are under a lot of pressure from insurance companies now.
1 person likes this
@JudyEv (342868)
• Rockingham, Australia
29 Aug 21
@DocAndersen It should be a good system and it is in many ways as we don't need to pay at all at many medical centres. But of course it's open to abuse.
1 person likes this
@DocAndersen (54402)
• United States
29 Aug 21
@JudyEv you just laid out the pressure perfectly. Lots of patients, earn more. Less time per patient the other thing they do is push a consistent fee per visit.
sadly the same here.
1 person likes this
@wolfgirl569 (109121)
• Marion, Ohio
27 Aug 21
Hope he likes the doctor he picked. You never know what to expect
1 person likes this
@wolfgirl569 (109121)
• Marion, Ohio
27 Aug 21
@JudyEv I got lucky the last time I had to look for one. I am seeing a nurse practitioner and love her.
1 person likes this
@JudyEv (342868)
• Rockingham, Australia
29 Aug 21
@wolfgirl569 Someone you trust and like is so important when it comes to health issues.
1 person likes this
@arunima25 (87931)
• Bangalore, India
27 Aug 21
I would not be comfortable with a doctor who is in such a hurry. I like my current doctor for that matter. He is patient, gives a good amount of time, and is willing to answer all queries and concerns. That builds trust. I hope Vince got another good doctor.
1 person likes this
@arunima25 (87931)
• Bangalore, India
30 Aug 21
@JudyEv Oh! Seems like your hunt for a good doctor still continues. Hope you get a good one soon. It is so important.
1 person likes this
@much2say (56635)
• Los Angeles, California
27 Aug 21
It really is difficult to choose new doctors . . . we had to do that with the kids' pediatrician recently. Ten minutes does seem rather short . . . I sure wouldn't want to feel rushed through in an appointment. It's hard to get a vibe too until you actually make a visit to that doctor.
1 person likes this
@allknowing (138546)
• India
27 Aug 21
Could he not have consulted his old doctor over the phone? We used to do it until we found one here.
1 person likes this
@JudyEv (342868)
• Rockingham, Australia
29 Aug 21
He has spoken to him once but I guess the old doctor has no way of charging for those types of visit.
@RebeccasFarm (90618)
• Arvada, Colorado
27 Aug 21
Wow that is a bit off..maybe it was the receptionist being snarky, but yeah the one here does the same crap..10 minutes only
1 person likes this
@RebeccasFarm (90618)
• Arvada, Colorado
29 Aug 21
@JudyEv You just never know Judy..it is horrid all of this the way people cannot get cared for
1 person likes this
@LindaOHio (183254)
• United States
27 Aug 21
I'm glad Vince was able to find an accommodating doctor.
1 person likes this
@xaelignist (3)
•
28 Aug 21
i will do the same if i be you, because its something relate with someone health.
my mom will do the same also if we saw a doctor wasnt so compatible with their job
better double check it for sure
1 person likes this
@JudyEv (342868)
• Rockingham, Australia
29 Aug 21
Yes, we need to be able to trust our doctor that's for sure.
