I am not sure how I feel yet. I have had several bad experiences -- perhaps it was due to start-up, so I'll give them the benefit of the doubt for awhile. Yes, they are trying to rein in costs, and have the primary doctor (or PA in my case) be the person providing the main health care -- vs.a specialist. But, two things happened over the last couple of months that have me concerned. I have had terrible pain in my hands due to an accident several years ago. I went to my VHC PA and she said to use arthritis gel. I did that for several weeks with no improvement. I finally decided to go to a hand specialist, and she said my problem was treatable with cortisone shots. She gave me two shots over a two week period and my pain was gone, and is still gone. Unbelievable after living with the pain for years. I went back to my PA a few weeks later because I had abdominal pain, and she ordered a CT. I went back to her for the results and she said I have a double hernia. She did not think it was a problem, and suggested I do nothing. Also, when I told her about getting shots from the hand doctor she said, "Oh, I could have done that". I'm beginning to think the VHC is cutting specialists out of the equation based on these two incidents. Seems pretty obvious that they want Marcus Welby to get the business.
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