Things To Look For When Shopping For A Doctor

I know this is a legal forum but I've been asked this question a lot these last couple of days. Let me know what ya think...and be kind, please :D

Some things to consider when shopping for a dr...
1. I personally stay clear from PA's and NP's in dr's offices. Its not that they don't know what they are doing, its that if I pay for an office visit to a dr, I expect to see a dr.

2. I make sure I'm the first appointment of the day so they don't waste my time later on in the afternoon.

3. If you need an OBGYN, make sure they aren't still delivering babies or you'll be waiting in the office for the baby to be born. If you have to see one still delivering, make the appointment during the time they are not "on call"

4. Check to be sure there are no sanctions on their license or disciplinary actions. This includes a check on their billing practices. I don't wait until the newspaper tells me they and been investigated for Medicaid fraud.

5. If I need a cardiologist and he suggests I need a heart cath (cardiac catherazation) I make sure he has privilages to place stents. Believe it or not, a good portion of them are allowed to do the procedure but not put stents in, making you come back for a second heart cath at your expense with a doctor who can. This goes for any procedure and any specialist.

6. Go by word of mouth from employees of the local hospital. Everyone knows a nurse or someone that does. Ask them not your friends and family. Really bad surgeons and other drs are known to be loved bc of their bedside manner, not skills. A good portion of the older population pick a dr based on their English speaking skills, not medical skills. If you cut me open, and I wake up with a drain coming out of me that wasn't part of the plan, I don't care how nice you are, your gonna answer to me when I wake up.

I have a really long list but I'll cut it for now, thought it just might help someone.

The doc in my town is a toothless, long haired redneck who works on old cars, and sells weed for a living. I believe he got his decree from a diploma mill. Is he alright?

Oh yeah, he wears an old ball cap and torn up white t-shirts too.

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Quoting gigirle

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1. I personally stay clear from PA's and NP's in dr's offices. Its not that they don't know what they are doing, its that if I pay for an office visit to a dr, I expect to see a dr.

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The little old ladies in my physician's practice have this attitude, and they will ONLY see "the REAL DOCTOR" for every godsdamned little thing, when the PA could take care of their ingrown toenail or the routine blood pressure check required to get their scrip renewed or whatever.

If I'm sitting in the waiting room, hacking up a lung, the ingrown toenail should be sent to the PA, and let the actual SICK people see the doctor. I pay for my office visits, too, dammitall.

Personally, I love my PA. I see her for all of the routine crap.

My doc is fabulous too. But some of her patients really suck.

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Quoting LawResearcherMissy

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The little old ladies in my physician's practice have this attitude, and they will ONLY see "the REAL DOCTOR" for every godsdamned little thing, when the PA could take care of their ingrown toenail or the routine blood pressure check required to get their scrip renewed or whatever.

If I'm sitting in the waiting room, hacking up a lung, the ingrown toenail should be sent to the PA, and let the actual SICK people see the doctor. I pay for my office visits, too, dammitall.

Personally, I love my PA. I see her for all of the routine crap.

My doc is fabulous too. But some of her patients really suck.

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I disagree. Ingrown toenails hurt like hell. And they can be infected. You dont want somebody with a serious infection seeing a lowly PA do you?

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Quoting LawResearcherMissy

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The little old ladies in my physician's practice have this attitude, and they will ONLY see "the REAL DOCTOR" for every godsdamned little thing, when the PA could take care of their ingrown toenail or the routine blood pressure check required to get their scrip renewed or whatever.

If I'm sitting in the waiting room, hacking up a lung, the ingrown toenail should be sent to the PA, and let the actual SICK people see the doctor. I pay for my office visits, too, dammitall.

Personally, I love my PA. I see her for all of the routine crap.

My doc is fabulous too. But some of her patients really suck.

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I should have clairfied. I don't go to the Dr's office unless I'm hacking up a lung, in which case I want the Dr so he knows that I want a strong antibiotic. I personally love PA's and NP's. When my kids are sick, I'm okay with them treating for ear infections, physicials, etc.

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Quoting gigirle

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I should have clairfied. I don't go to the Dr's office unless I'm hacking up a lung, in which case I want the Dr so he knows that I want a strong antibiotic. I personally love PA's and NP's. When my kids are sick, I'm okay with them treating for ear infections, physicials, etc.

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I am an invisible man! I have never told anyone that before, but I am!!



I went to the doctor and he said he could not see me today!! :eek:

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Quoting BOR

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I am an invisible man! I have never told anyone that before, but I am!!



I went to the doctor and he said he could not see me today!! :eek:

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what do you think of my DR? Well, I have never actually went to see him. He's a practicing gynecologist. He was asking me to take my ex-girlfriend to him. She never got around to going... Does he sound ok to you?

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Quoting blueeagle

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what do you think of my DR? Well, I have never actually went to see him. He's a practicing gynecologist. He was asking me to take my ex-girlfriend to him. She never got around to going... Does he sound ok to you?

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If you mean this dude:

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The doc in my town is a toothless, long haired redneck who works on old cars, and sells weed for a living. I believe he got his decree from a diploma mill. Is he alright?

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Be wary soldier, hysterectomy and hysterical are forms of the same origin?

:p

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Quoting BOR

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If you mean this dude:



Be wary soldier, hysterectomy and hysterical are forms of the same origin?

:p

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His office is a 1967 junk trailer.

I feel really bad for hijacking her thread. This was one of the few serious things I've ever seen on here. She just set herself up for one of my jokes. :D