question of the day friday april 7th

[strider rose]

good morning cat lovers
have you ever had to change your primary doctor ?
i got me a new doctor and left the doctor i had previously yesterday morning

 

[di and bob]

yes, several times. They move on or die. I don't have anything especially bad, just need general care, so really don't care.

 

[Tik cat's mum]

Yep a couple of times because I moved.

 

[NY cat man]

Yes. When we were working, our doctor was part of a group that accepted our insurance, but when we retired, we found that they were accepting no new Medicare patients, and we couldn't afford any plans that they would accept.

 

[misty8723]

Yes. Usually from moving, but since we've been down here, we've had three. The first one was really just to get flu shots shortly after we moved, I barely remember the place. The second one was recommended, but we didn't like him so we switched to another doctor in the same practice. My husband switched first and liked him, so I followed. We've been with him probably over 25 years. He is not perfect, but he's kind and he tries. He also doesn't push pills. When he suggested I take cholesterol pills, I said I didn't want to because people in my family had had issues with them, and he never tried to make me take them. I've heard of some doctors who refuse to care for patients who don't take the pills they push at them. He doesn't accept Medicare, but he charges the Medicare approved rate and then submits it to Medicare, so I'd rather continue with that than try to find a new one that does accept. I've heard people say it's nearly impossible to find one accepting new patients. We dont' go that often and all of our specialists do accept Medicare, which is the main thing.

 

[MoochNNoodles]

Too many times. Lately they keep moving or retiring. I’m a military brat so for years they were never around long enough for me to even know who I was assigned to. Actually I think we technically weren’t assigned anyone when I was younger. I just saw whoever had an opening.

Now almost all the local physicians are joined to the hospital system anyway. I stuck with that after my doctor moved at the same time her group merged with the hospital because it means I’m not left finding someone on my own and waiting 5 months for a new patient appointment. My current doctor is also young; not long out of medical school. I’m hoping she sticks around. She seems pretty good. The hospital system is a bit of a pain. For years if I couldn’t get a sitter I just brought my kids with me. They are very well behaved. Now DD can be left in charge but I had to reschedule a bunch. I have to reschedule if I even have the sniffles and its not covid. Its become very frustrating to go.

 

[Winchester]

Yes. It happens.

 

[iPappy]

I don't have a doctor. I really ought to do something about that...

 

[susanm9006]

Many many times. Most have been okay, a few have not, and in those cases I changed doctors on my own. The rest of the time, the doctors left the clinic or retired, as my current doctor just did. No idea who I will be assigned to next.

 

[sivyaleah]

Yes a few times. In all instances they were retiring.
I look for younger doctors now LOL

 

[game misconduct]

yes its a total hassel for me since it just means more blood work to be done and all the wasting time sitting around an office just to have them tell me what i already know from my other doctors and then having to tell them i refuse to so any fasting type routine blood testing.

 

[Lari]

Yes a few times. In all instances they were retiring.
I look for younger doctors now LOL

That doesn't always work. I had a couple of Physicians Assistants I was seeing who quit after going on Maternity leave. I actually asked my last doctor if she was planning on having a baby antime soon.

I liked her a lot, but we moved and it's not convenient to see her anymore, so I need to find a new PCP.

 

[CatladyJan]

All the time. Either I moved or they left or I got fed up with them.

 

[neely]

If a doctor is moving or leaving the practice I always get a referral/recommendation from the current doctor before going to a new doctor and so far it's worked out for me.

 

[lizzie]

Yes,and I hate it.Seems like you just get comfortable with them and here comes the letter that they're leaving.We're both quite comfortable in the doctors group we're in,so we now have a new fella,whose also a neighbor.Very happy with him so far.

 

[catloverfromwayback]

Frequently. Every time I’ve moved. I still haven’t found a doctor I’m satisfied with here, and I’ve been here two years. I miss the doctor I had three moves ago!

 

[Boris Diamond]

I am with a new doctor now. I like her! She loves cats, which gives us a bond. Before that I had a doctor who was not much of a diagnostician. She missed a rather common condition that was making me exhausted! I'm very glad to have changed.

 

[MonaLyssa33]

Yes, but I've been with the same clinic my entire life. My current primary doctor is amazing though and all of my friends and several family members also see her. She's been listed as one of the top family care doctors in the Twin Cities, so needless to say, it's kind of hard to get an appointment with her, so if I need an immediate appointment, I will usually go to a different doctor in the clinic.

 

[strider rose]

i just got tired of being dismissed and given stuff that wasnt working at all ... i need someone to be serious with me and not sugar coat things , you know ?

 

[Mamanyt1953]

Yep. When I've moved. I've been really, REALLY lucky with my doctors, for the most part. One of the reasons I drag my heels about moving back to Tennessee is that I do NOT want to leave my current medical team.