[Nucky]

Originally Posted by 2BNTV

I am happy with the healthcare rendered by TV Health Center and Dr. Saul Rosenblum. I haven't had any serious health issues and I like the fact that I'm able to spend 1/2 hour for an appointment and never feel rushed.

I used to call my Dr. back in the northeast, Dr. Death. He had the personality of an ashtray.

Generally, I think healthcare in the northeast to be superior to most of the country but that's me. I'm sure there are some specialty hospitals that are worth going to for difficult problems. IMHO

Those that have encountered serious health issues will probably disagree strongly so don't throw tomatoes.

This is the beauty of TV'S. When I was brand new in the neighborhood I was fortunate enough to be in the company of 2BNTV, GE, and dbussone. Talk about a stroke of luck. I revealed my fears over making the correct decision about our healthcare and was advised properly by three men who are in the know. I followed their advice. My care could not be better, impossible. My primary Doctor from Santa Barbara calls me at home every Wednesday to check in on me. People don't appreciate how good they have it until it's too late. Not me. I'm grateful now while its happening.

I do realize that many have had experiences that are polar opposite from mine. I am sorry for your difficulties and do know that you are not embellishing your stories. The care inside the care centers seems to be leaps and bounds above the care and speed of getting an appointment when you have to go to a specialist. I have had some difficulty with specialists. Realizing I'm only a little fish in a big bowl I call UHC & my primary doctor to help speed things up, it works like a charm. They have some juice with the specialists.

[ColdNoMore]

Originally Posted by golfing eagles

Which I can only imagine is quite scary for the average lay person, since your statement is generally true. You can look up any licensure issues, but they are quite rare. You can look up malpractice actions, but many of the best physicians attract the most malpractice cases (they take on more difficult cases, their patients may have unreasonable expectations, lawyers like picking off an expert, etc.). You can see where they went to medical school, but won't know if they graduated 176th in a class of 154 at Harvard and took 6 years to do it. I will say this---beware the doc who went to Harvard Med and then did a residency at Podunk Community Hospital. Likewise, don't dismiss a doc who went to the East Las Vegas School of Medicine and Bartending, but did his residency at Mass. General. The good news is that physician skills and judgement tend to follow a bell shaped curve, so while you may not catch the top 10%, you are just as unlikely to get the bottom 10%.

My only advantage is that I can sniff out the clowns in about 90 seconds of conversation. I ran into one 2 years ago, who was spouting out the biggest crock of BS I had heard in years, and claimed he had learned this from Dr. "X". Unfortunately for him, Dr. "X" was one of the interns I had trained 30 years earlier, so I knew none of this garbage had come from him.

So while it seem like a bit of a crap shoot to find a good doctor, the odds are still in your favor.

I see a real business opportunity for you...as a 'professional patient advocate.'

Someone with your knowledge and (occasional ) common sense, who could charge a reasonable fee to help those who are totally befuddled by the whole system...could be a huge benefit to those who are already emotionally exhausted from their illness.

Just knowing that someone is willing to give their professional opinion, could ease the emotional burden on a lot of senior citizens.

And yes, I know there might be some legal issues should you 'bad mouth' a particular doctor and that doctor finds out...but frack'em.

Think about it.

[paulascorpio]

My husband got Multiple Myeloma 3 years ago. Went to Shands..........incredible experience! The best care ever. Transferred to Moffitt/Florida Cancer in TV for follow-up care after his Stem Cell replacement and again, fabulous experience. Lived in RI and NY...........moved to Florida. Found great doctors and great care here in TV.

[Chatbrat]

Sloan Kettering, The Hospital For Special Surgery, Columbia Presbyterian--when Gloria Estefan was injured outside of Philadelphia,she went to the Hospital For Special Surgery for her back injury

Go where the best specialists are

[rjn5656]

How do you find the rankings?