I have been through a lot of medical problems with my immediate family. One who needed it the most was a Head Nurse in a very well known hospital. In her first and second cancer we went to Lahey Clinic in Arlington, Mass.,Also went to Westchester medical center for their surgical dept. . In a couple of other incidents have gone to MD Anderson, the most well known and respected cancer hospital and in Houston, Texas. Have also been to Mayo Clinic/Hosipital in Jacksonville, If we have a moderate problem we will go to the Urgent Care in Lake Sumter but anything that has the chance of being serious we go to a major Hospital/Clinic. The reason is that it is not always the Dr. but the diagnosis that is critical. Years ago a Dr who was head of a Dept in Lahey Clinic told me that a key to medical treatment is the diagnosis. Once that is established almost any Dr can treat the problem. Also the policies and practices are critical. In major clinics there are practices where at the end of the week the Dr's in the Dept will bring up their more difficult problems and discuss them among the group of specialists. It is also a mystery as to when someone has a more than normal medical issue they rely on a local Dr. who may or may not have studied the condition in any detail.
We are only 3 hours from Mayo Clinic who can call on some pretty good specialists to assist in diagnosis. Why stay local? I can say I am a big fan of Lahey Clinic in Mass and like the Mayo Clinic in Jacksonville. Some will spend hours/days deciding on a car but take no time to understand where the best medical facility is for their particular problem. The critical point is to understand and have the right diagnosis !!
