[dbussone]

Originally Posted by CFrance

And many hospitals are switching to a system where they have " in house" doctors, so you may not even be allowed to see your own doctor while in the hospital because they don't make hospital visits any more.

I do believe, though, that just about every area of FL swells in the winter months, and some hospitals are equipped to handle it better.

Lots of people who are very fit and eat and exercise right turn up with heart issues. Just because OP said she was in the weight & health field should not have caused them to disregard the testing. However, it is odd that the doctor ordered one test and the nurses decided to do a different one. That seems illogical or illegal, and I wonder if there's some information the OP doesn't know about or hasn't included here regarding this change in testing.

CF - To counter the Hospitalist trend, Medicare is providing financial incentives for your primary care physician to oversee your hospital care. My physician does this. However, he or she must have privileges as a medical staff member.

A couple of additional points: 1) a hospital cannot force a particular physician on you & 2) it is your right as a patient to select the physicians who care for you. Having said this, in an emergency situation you most likely will be cared for by the specialist on call (cardiologist, etc.) if you present to the ER.