[2BNTV]

Originally Posted by svgephart

Hopefully will be moving to TV within the year but could not ignore this post as my hubby and myself are both in the health care profession and have been for many, many years. None of OUR generation is happy the way we see the health care systems going. We all remember the way it used to be: got sick - saw the english-speaking doctor within a reasonable timeframe - got reasonable treatment - got better. That was then. Now: get sick - call for appointment but first need to check insurance and coverage - finally after much waiting, see a doctor you cannot understand for a "couple of minutes" - go thru scads of testing and still no answers but lots of medication - don't get better - repeat....
I was in TV in September and on a Wednesday had to take a friend to the doctor for an emergent problem. Not a true emergency, but needed to be taken care of relatively quickly. She had not eaten solid food for 3 days because of stomach pain and bloat, she just consumed fluids. So we saw the doctor who was very difficult to understand (heavy accent) and his questions and exam was so inept that I was embarrased. After all, this is what I do for a living. I had a differential diagnosis list in my head but no license. The doctor had no specific plan but to "order" a test. I really didn't have a problem with that test....but it would have been nice if he had really examined her (like maybe "touch" her abdomen?) They scheduled a CT exam for Friday. Mind you, she had not had solid food and she was in pain. No offer of anything for pain or bloodwork to check to see if she was dehydrated. The "test" was scheduled for Friday (at the earliest because she was not on medicare and they had to check to see if her insurance plan would cover the test). I gave her some pain medicine (my own) and sent her to her home city/state for care.
I can't personally speak to any of the rest of the doctors in TV, but I can say that medical care MAY be less expensive for seniors in the future, but not better. This is a perfect example of a system "stressed" beyond capacity. With the beginning of the new health care system you can't add 12 million people who need health care to the existing health care providers (no matter who they are) and expect the same level of care as before. This doctor was inept at best or incompetent at worst. I was horrified, to say the least, but this problem is not limited to TV. You can expect this to be a glimpse of the future everywhere.
You need to be your own health advocate. You need to be an advocate for your family and loved ones AND your friends. If you are sick, don't go to the doctor alone. Remember - 2 heads are better than one. Make a list of symptoms and questions. Have a list of all current medicines. Write down what makes your "problem" better or worse. Find out what information the "test" is suppose to tell tell doctor. What is the medicine for, what is it suppose to do, and in what time frame. When will the doctor call you back about the test results. Be informed for yourself and others.
This is an important thought: have a doctor you trust and see them yearly, at least. Let the MD do a "real" complete physical exam while you are healthy. They will dictate all the pertinent info to your chart, so that when you get sick, they will more easily detect the abnormality from your prior exam.
And hope for the best. Live a healthy lifestyle in TV (lose weight, eat good food and exercise). Its the best we can do until we can't.

Good advice.

[Pturner]

Barb, I'm thrilled to hear that you are back and wish you the best of health and happiness. Glad you were able to find the medical support you need here.

[silvertoken]

There are so many clubs in The Villages, I'm surprised they don't have one concerning this post. When I first came here I also had issues with some of these doctors but mostly with the administrators. I did get a book from The Villages hospital and much to my surprise a large percentage of the doctors are from the middle east countries not that I'm prejudice but I do have a hard time understanding them. This is crucial to me because I need instructions for medications I'm taking. My solution was to get advice from my elder neighbors who were at least 75 years old and above and have at least spent 20 years or more in The Villages area. The best advice is stay away from overcrowded waiting rooms. Find openings from reputable Doctors, because they will only take so many. Make sure the receptionist or admin is friendly. And stay away from Doctors who send you out for multiple test when nothing is wrong with you.

[Mack184]

If you have concerns about doctors from the middle east or other 3rd world countries (I do) I don't think about it racially. The US has the finest medical schools and hospitals in the world. When I look up the background of a doctor and they have not been trained 100% in the USA, then I won't see them. I don't care about their color, their religion or whatever, but if they haven't been trained in the US, then to me, I don't trust their abilities. While they might be just fine, you'll never convince me of it, which means that I'll never trust them, and if you're laying your heart, soul & life on the line to someone, you need to be able to trust them.

To me, it's the difference between a Rolls-Royce & a Yugo. I'll pick the Roller any time.

[ilovetv]

In the suburban cities/towns where we lived in several midwestern states, we and everyone we knew expected to drive 20/50/80 miles to a large university medical center for large-scale medical diagnostics, treatments, followups if we had a condition that was "big", rare, undiagnosable by local/primary drs., etc.

Here, for the big, rare, undiagnosed-but-you-know-something-is-terribly-wrong things, we expect to drive to Gainesville, Orlando, Jacksonville (Mayo), Tampa, or maybe as far as Miami as several neighbors have done in order to be treated by the "rock star" type of specialist (who can offer treatment/hope when all other options have been exhausted, etc.).

I don't see it as any different here. Wherever we've lived, we've done a lot of homework to find reliable, sound primary doctors and specialists locally, and have asked around a lot to find out who's a quack and who's brilliant and trustworthy and compassionate and easy to relate to.

There are both quacks and brilliant doctors everywhere, and the big-name, famous teaching hospitals are not immune from having a few quacks either. (To me a "quack" is not just somebody who's incompetent, but can also be somebody who is technically skilled and extremely knowledgeable, but the person has NO interpersonal skills, or their ego is so big and narcissistic that they refuse to admit they don't know everything and thus, do not refer you out when they ought to.....which boils down to POOR JUDGEMENT).

Asking friends/neighbors/acquaintances etc. like we do here is crucial to finding trustworthy and competent doctors. And then, I think, one must be willing to travel to the bigger cities for the bigger, rarer or very-sick-but-mysterious-or-odd things.

[PaPaLarry]

Originally Posted by 2BNTV

[/B][/B]

Good advice.

[graciegirl]

Originally Posted by ilovetv

in the suburban cities/towns where we lived in several midwestern states, we and everyone we knew expected to drive 20/50/80 miles to a large university medical center for large-scale medical diagnostics, treatments, followups if we had a condition that was "big", rare, undiagnosable by local/primary drs., etc.

Here, for the big, rare, undiagnosed-but-you-know-something-is-terribly-wrong things, we expect to drive to gainesville, orlando, jacksonville (mayo), tampa, or maybe as far as miami as several neighbors have done in order to be treated by the "rock star" type of specialist (who can offer treatment/hope when all other options have been exhausted, etc.).

I don't see it as any different here. Wherever we've lived, we've done a lot of homework to find reliable, sound primary doctors and specialists locally, and have asked around a lot to find out who's a quack and who's brilliant and trustworthy and compassionate and easy to relate to.

There are both quacks and brilliant doctors everywhere, and the big-name, famous teaching hospitals are not immune from having a few quacks either. (to me a "quack" is not just somebody who's incompetent, but can also be somebody who is technically skilled and extremely knowledgeable, but the person has no interpersonal skills, or their ego is so big and narcissistic that they refuse to admit they don't know everything and thus, do not refer you out when they ought to.....which boils down to poor judgement).

asking friends/neighbors/acquaintances etc. Like we do here is crucial to finding trustworthy and competent doctors. And then, i think, one must be willing to travel to the bigger cities for the bigger, rarer or very-sick-but-mysterious-or-odd things.

well said!

[Cynbod]

In the late 60's I attended Mount Sinai Hospital School of Nursing in NYC and after graduation I worked there for a few years. I remember that many of the interns and residents were from Pakistan (and probably many other countries). These guys worked hard and learned very well. The ones I knew personally became very skilled in the area they chose. Most of these MD's are still practicing and remained skilled and some even gifted. I would believe that most of these guys are as competent as any MD trained exclusively in the US. I would use them with confidence. Bedside manner is another issue, many MD's lack that.

[lovesports]

Totally agree Cynbod.

[Taltarzac725]

Anyone know about resources other than neighbors, friends, virtual buddies, colleagues, etc. as sources for information on people in the medical fields?

I have found the usual professional directories of very little value with respect to the care you might get from some M.D. or dentist. Anything else out there? Just because some doctor graduated from Harvard is not going to make her a good practioner. I also agree with Cynbod that just because some M.D. got her education in Pakistan is hardly a reason to believe she cannot do her job in an excellent manner. I had a roommate while at the U of MN who was an army doctor from South Korea. He was getting a Ph.D. so he could teach at a South Korean medical school.
He sounded like a very competent doctor from my discussions with him over nine months or so while he was a roommate.

There are of course the quack registeries and the like. Information about who and what malpractice claims have been made. http://patients.about.com/od/doctori...acticeinfo.htm

I tried organizations when I was having my various troubles with the medical community in Pinellas County; they were of no luck though that I can remember.

I do remember when trying to put together a good pathfinder to information while at the U of MN Law Library people were the most important resource but that usually requires very good connections.


I cannot say that I have very good connections into the local medical community in the Villages or to those in the surrounding communities.

[Mack184]

While "bedside manner" is important to many people my wife always reminds me that surgeons especially, demonstrate the bulk of their talents while their patients are asleep. They are not all glad-handers. In fact her experience is that many of the best surgeons are not that great with their "bedside manner" and many who have a great bedisde manner are lousy surgeons. But do you want a friendly visit from uncle Charlie or do you want somebody who's going to save your life?

I am lucky to have some doctors who are both fine & friendly. However, last year I had a very tricky bit of kidney surgery. My kidney surgeon happens to have the "bedside manner" of a turnip, but I am VERY glad that I had him working the controls when the job was done. I want my doctor to fix me, I'm not interested in dating him or inviting him home for dinner. Are you looking for a friend, somebody to play golf with or somebody who's amazingly competent to handle your medicial situation?

IMHO picking a doctor with a pleasant bedside manner is over-rated. I'd rather pick somebody who KNOWS what they are doing, is top in their field and will get you fixed back up. If they happen to be uncle Charlie as well, that's a bonus. If you're looking for Hawkeye Pierce to be your doctor, give up the search. There was only one of them.

If it came to your car, would you pick a mechanic who knew what he was doing & wouldn't cheat you, but was a bit of a grump, or would you pick Smilin' Jack who wasn't so good with his skills and kept you coming back because he wasn't up on the latest information?

Yeah..I thought so.

[graciegirl]

[QUOTE=Mack184;576133]While "bedside manner" is important to many people my wife always reminds me that surgeons especially, demonstrate the bulk of their talents while their patients are asleep. They are not all glad-handers. In fact her experience is that many of the best surgeons are not that great with their "bedside manner" and many who have a great bedisde manner are lousy surgeons. But do you want a friendly visit from uncle Charlie or do you want somebody who's going to save your life?

I am lucky to have some doctors who are both fine & friendly. However, last year I had a very tricky bit of kidney surgery. My kidney surgeon happens to have the "bedside manner" of a turnip, but I am VERY glad that I had him working the controls when the job was done. I want my doctor to fix me, I'm not interested in dating him or inviting him home for dinner. Are you looking for a friend, somebody to play golf with or somebody who's amazingly competent to handle your medicial situation?

IMHO picking a doctor with a pleasant bedside manner is over-rated. I'd rather pick somebody who KNOWS what they are doing, is top in their field and will get you fixed back up. If they happen to be uncle Charlie as well, that's a bonus. If you're looking for Hawkeye Pierce to be your doctor, give up the search. There was only one of them.

If it came to your car, would you pick a mechanic who knew what he was doing & wouldn't cheat you, but was a bit of a grump, or would you pick Smilin' Jack who wasn't so good with his skills and kept you coming back because he wasn't up on the latest information?



Excellent post.

[ilovetv]

Originally Posted by Mack184

IMHO picking a doctor with a pleasant bedside manner is over-rated. I'd rather pick somebody who KNOWS what they are doing, is top in their field and will get you fixed back up. If they happen to be uncle Charlie as well, that's a bonus. If you're looking for Hawkeye Pierce to be your doctor, give up the search. There was only one of them...

I agree with this whole post. But let's not forget that being a "gladhand" or "hand holder" or "pal" is not synonymous with being a "good communicator". A talented, bright, skilled and "unfriendly" doctor, who poorly communicates to the patient why they need a procedure/treatment and therefore does not lead the patient toward a well-informed decision, can be disastrous.

A person can be "quiet" or "introverted" but still make their case effectively by being a clear, concise communicator. With the skilled and super-smart introverts I know, they don't say much, but when they do, you'd better listen......and take it to the bank.

[Mack184]

I agree with you, but I would then say that many people equate glad-handing and hand-holding in a physician as "good bedside manner". The funny thing is, if it was a politician who was behaving in that manner, the first thing they would do would be to check for their ring, watch & wallet. Glad-handing is NOT good communication, and people seeking a medical professional shouldn't confuse the two.

[Mack184]

[quote=graciegirl;576139]

Originally Posted by Mack184

While "bedside manner" is important to many people my wife always reminds me that surgeons especially, demonstrate the bulk of their talents while their patients are asleep. They are not all glad-handers. In fact her experience is that many of the best surgeons are not that great with their "bedside manner" and many who have a great bedisde manner are lousy surgeons. But do you want a friendly visit from uncle Charlie or do you want somebody who's going to save your life?

I am lucky to have some doctors who are both fine & friendly. However, last year I had a very tricky bit of kidney surgery. My kidney surgeon happens to have the "bedside manner" of a turnip, but I am VERY glad that I had him working the controls when the job was done. I want my doctor to fix me, I'm not interested in dating him or inviting him home for dinner. Are you looking for a friend, somebody to play golf with or somebody who's amazingly competent to handle your medicial situation?

IMHO picking a doctor with a pleasant bedside manner is over-rated. I'd rather pick somebody who KNOWS what they are doing, is top in their field and will get you fixed back up. If they happen to be uncle Charlie as well, that's a bonus. If you're looking for Hawkeye Pierce to be your doctor, give up the search. There was only one of them.

If it came to your car, would you pick a mechanic who knew what he was doing & wouldn't cheat you, but was a bit of a grump, or would you pick Smilin' Jack who wasn't so good with his skills and kept you coming back because he wasn't up on the latest information?



Excellent post.

I think I'm honored.