How to choose a doctor?

[MGW]

Long story but I need a new primary care physician. I haven't had a primary care doctor for a long time preferring to use a nurse practitioner instead. I have no idea how to go about finding a good doctor. I know I want someone that stays on top of current research, doesn't prescribe drugs to try to fix every problem, and takes the time to try to understand what the issue is. I hardly ever go to the doctor but I want a good one when I need one. Insurance makes it more difficult but there are still plenty of options in my area.

Any tips?

[Gun Mutt]

When I was 48, my insurance changed and I had to find a new PC.

My want list:
- Male; being one myself, I figure he just might know more about the subspecies.
- A few to several years older than me; I value the experience of my elders.
- Sports physiology background; I've always liked working out & I intend to stay as fit as I can for as long as I can. Much of the fitness advice I adhere to comes from guys with at least 5+yrs on me and usually in better shape. It's been my experience that people who study health & fitness often have a better grasp on overall wellness, too...like the food pyramid is bullshit and the ability to squat is important, that kinda stuff.
- Plus I wanted someone who wasn't gonna freak when I told them TRT was pretty much a sure thing in the next year or so.

Then:
Logged onto my insurance company's site and got a list of all the allegedly covered physicians and winnowed my way through that list.
Called to see if they were accepting new patients, never trust the ins co site, dr's offices don't update them & the ins co never fact checks. *see allegedly
Tried to speak to head nurse and asked questions about the dr like it was an interview...because it was.
Made appointment with the first one, cancelled it when they said dr was gone and I'd be with his NP.
Made new appointment with the next guy on the list who's staff passed the interview.
Had a good, honest talk with the dr. Liked his attitude and his demeanor, regretted having to find a new one when we moved states away a couple years later.

[UNM1136]

Since I got my first doc as an adult I have tried to go with D.O.s in many states they can do minor surgery, and the spinal manipulation skills of a chiropractor have come in handy. Most D.O.s I have had have been a lot more holistic (not in a wierd way) and "whole person" oriented. Open to alternative therapies. My last two primary care were resident physicians, and it was a little rough. Super conservative, not wanting to risk irritating the attending. I realize people gotta learn, but....it was a strain. I like the relationship aspect.

Maybe Nephrology would have a little insight.

pat

[OlongJohnson]

D.O.s

What does this mean? All I'm coming up with is Doctor of Oncology.

[UNM1136]

https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Doctor_of_Osteopathic_Medicine

pat

[JohnO]

What does this mean? All I'm coming up with is Doctor of Oncology.


Doctor of Osteopathic Medicine

https://osteopathic.org/what-is-osteopathic-medicine/what-is-a-do/

[Poconnor]

It was disappointing to me when I realized just how bad many doctors are. Many just don’t care and blame the insurance companies for their poor performance. I have learned that when a doctor tells you they can’t fix what is wrong with you they often really mean they don’t want to (often because they don’t want the hassle of insurance companies or want to testify in lawsuits) or they don’t know how. Worker Comp doctors are a whole additional level of fucked up greedy whores. Good doctors are worth their weight in gold. I prefer DOs over MDs and docs that have played sports/athletic ones are much better than book only ones. I also learned to stay away from ortho docs under the age of 35. They usually don’t have enough personal experience with injuries. If I sound sour I have reasons

[JWH]

What does this mean? All I'm coming up with is Doctor of Oncology.

Doctor of Osteopathy

[JohnO]

It was disappointing to me when I realized just how bad many doctors are. Many just don’t care and blame the insurance companies for their poor performance. I have learned that when a doctor tells you they can’t fix what is wrong with you they often really mean they don’t want to (often because they don’t want the hassle of insurance companies or want to testify in lawsuits) or they don’t know how. Worker Comp doctors are a whole additional level of fucked up greedy whores. Good doctors are worth their weight in gold. I prefer DOs over MDs and docs that have played sports/athletic ones are much better than book only ones. I also learned to stay away from ortho docs under the age of 35. They usually don’t have enough personal experience with injuries. If I sound sour I have reasons

I had a quack nearly kill me. He came recommended through a practice in my home town. I needed to get a work related medical form completed with Dr's signature so I went to see this particular M.D.

The first thing that happened which is fairly standard is my Blood Pressure was taken and I was told it was High. I was tested a second time later during the same visit and again told my pressure was high. Now I ended up with a follow-up visit for a Pressure Re-Check. Again told I had High Blood Pressure. The Doctor leaves the room and comes back in with a drug rep sample bottle of blood pressure medication. He hands it to me and says, "You need to take this!" I was a little flustered never having a pressure issue. I asked what will this medication do to me? Meaning what are the side effects. His response, "It will keep you ALIVE!"

I left that office with my head spinning, a bottle of Benecar, dosage instructions and an other follow up visit appointment. On my way home I purchased an automated Blood Pressure device because I didn't trust the doctor. When I measured my own pressure I came out perfectly normal. Yet the doctor's comment about "keeping me alive" scared me into taking the pressure medication.

I took the meds for 2 or 3 days before I quit. I was at work and bent over to pick up something on the floor and I went down to the floor, boom. Fortunately I was working with a co-worker and asked him to go out to my car and get my pressure machine. We took my pressure and it was lower than what an ER calls a Code for. I stopped those meds immediately, "F" them!

I actually went to the follow up appointment and got told my pressure was high again. Then I told the doctor what happened and he said there was an adjustment period to the medication. WTFO! I told him my machine said I was fine! He had some medical garble dee-gook to say and I walked out.

Months later it started eating at me. Who or what was correct? The quack or my machine? So I made an appointment with a Hypertension Specialist. Told him that whole story and he checked my machine and said it was perfectly accurate. He had me take my pressure morning and night for 2 weeks and come back. He told me I was perfectly fine and did not have any blood pressure issue. Then he asked me what medication I was put on. I told him Benecar. He was quite surprised that I was immediately put on a "dual-agent" blood pressure medication without any discussions about lifestyle changes, weight loss, salt reduction ... nothing but here take this "it will keep you alive."

A year later I was at my eye doctor for a yearly exam. At some point in time I must have put the quack down as my primary care physician. When the nurse/tech came in to the examining room before the eye doctor to ask all the standard questions, any eye problems ... She asked is Dr. ________ still your doctor? I quickly responded with a resounding NO! And she said "GOOD!" I said really? And she said Oh Yes he is trouble.

[Poconnor]

I had trouble with false high blood pressure readings too. Turns out there are different sizes of blood pressure cuffs. I just needed a bigger cuff.

[JAD]

I choose doctors by their faith and how committed they are to its practice. I choose doctors who I parish with, largely, or who my friends from other parishes parish with. I have a deep, detailed understanding of that doctor’s performance over a long period of time from actual patients who are disposed to be honest with me.

[YVK]

Any tips?

Your choice will be likely limited by your network coverage. For primary care docs, I would recommend MDs that are graduates of internal medicine programs. Better health care systems do provide doctor's rankings and patient reports accessible; they are not always fully accurate but are a reasonable guide. Beware of docs who have been in practice for a long time yet have a very short wait times. Generally, a good bet is a relatively recent graduate but not super fresh doc. They generally are still up to date, eager to work and build a practice and not entrenched into practice habits, but already have practice experience. I also do not like solo or small practices, they usually have a lesser potential for ideas exchange.



I hardly ever go to the doctor but I want a good one when I need one.

That's a wrong approach and here is a gun analogy: I generally don't use 1911s or don't have problems with mine but I want Chuck Rogers to fix it when I need it. Get on with it starting with a regular annual wellness checkups when you're fine. This will give you an opportunity to sort things out before you actually "need one".

[Nephrology]

Since I got my first doc as an adult I have tried to go with D.O.s in many states they can do minor surgery, and the spinal manipulation skills of a chiropractor have come in handy. Most D.O.s I have had have been a lot more holistic (not in a wierd way) and "whole person" oriented. Open to alternative therapies.

pat

re: DOs vs MDs, the long and short of it is that in the modern world they are functionally equivalent and can perform all kinds of surgery in all 50 states (if they are appropriately trained/board certified). You don't really learn how to be a doctor in medical school - that happens in residency (+/- fellowship). Many DOs apply for allopathic (MD) residency programs andshortly the match for both DO and MD residencies will be fully integrated. All this to say that a DO and an MD train at the same residency or fellowship together, you have no reason to believe the one will be "better" than the other.

That said, DOs are slightly stigmatized in the medical world as being 'not as good' as MDs (DO school applications are typically less competitive) and so they often end up in less competitive jobs/specialties (primary care), but this is definitely just a stigma. As I said, you don't really learn your craft until residency, so if they attended a good residency training program they will be a well trained physician. I've met DOs at academic medical centers on services like trauma surgery, interventional radiology, nephrology, and emergency medicine, among others; that said, they are the exception and no the rule.

I'd say probably the real difference between an MD and a DO is that a DO is more likely to have had a little fun in college than an MD :)


Open to alternative therapies. My last two primary care were resident physicians, and it was a little rough. Super conservative, not wanting to risk irritating the attending. I realize people gotta learn, but....it was a strain. I like the relationship aspect.

Maybe Nephrology would have a little insight.

pat

Unfortunately, at least as far as I know based on my experience as a lifetime patient, it is becoming less and less likely you will directly see with an attending physician for routine outpatient care. If it hadn't been a resident, it likely would have been an NP/PA.

For a while I didn't have a specific physician with my subspecialty care team - I usually just saw the fellow or whatever attending had a slot in their schedule - but now that I am assigned a specific attending (who was, funny enough, one of my small group leaders in medical school), I only see the NP. It does kind of suck, and I am sure some of practicing MDs on this forum have more insight, but ultimately it comes down to economics.

[MGW]

That's a wrong approach and here is a gun analogy: I generally don't use 1911s or don't have problems with mine but I want Chuck Rogers to fix it when I need it. Get on with it starting with a regular annual wellness checkups when you're fine. This will give you an opportunity to sort things out before you actually "need one".

I don’t like this response because I’m stubborn and generally regard doctors as glorified plumbers. And I apologize to any plumbers for the insult. But you’re right. I do get an annual physical but I’m ready for a doctor that I can build a relationship with. Someone that knows me by name and at least makes me think they actual give a shit about my health. Someone that will give me good advice and not reach for a pill bottle as a first COA.

[Sensei]

I don’t like this response because I’m stubborn and generally regard doctors as glorified plumbers. And I apologize to any plumbers for the insult. But you’re right. I do get an annual physical but I’m ready for a doctor that I can build a relationship with. Someone that knows me by name and at least makes me think they actual give a shit about my health. Someone that will give me good advice and not reach for a pill bottle as a first COA.

You should probably google doctors offering concierge primary care services in your area. Most 3rd party payer plans will keep you from financial ruin if you get really sick, but they are unlikely to reimburse a doctor enough to provide the level of customer service that you seek for routine preventative care. That is why primary care offices are increasingly driven by PAs and NPs.

You can probably find a concierge doctor willing to see you for a $1000-2000 retainer per year; you will need to compare providers to see who is offering more preventive testing and procedures for that retainer. You may even be able to downgrade your employee insurance to a higher deductible/out-if-pocket plan to recover some of that cost since your routine office visits will be covered by your retainer.

[UNM1136]

One reason I like DOs so much is over the last 5 years or so as I firmly entered my 40s I was doing a lot of decoying for a local guy who was training working dogs. It had been about fifteen years since I decoyed, and then I decoyed once a week for four dogs for four or five hits per dog. Those were all experienced street dogs, where the local guy was training green dogs, so you have to be really on top of your game as a decoy because the dogs are new to the game and are just learning. Frequently the most dangerous martial arts students are not the black belts, but the white belts that know nothing, and the green belts who think they know something. The dogs aren't too different. Anyway I was taking hits from 4-6 50-75 pound dogs three or four times per dog, three to five days a week. My spine and shoulders took a hell of a beating.

Because I always preferred DOs, thinking of them as MDs with chiropractic skills, I went to my employer's urgent care where the clinic director is a DO. Making an appointment for the following day I paid 35 dollars for 45 minutes on the table and my spine sounded like a popcorn popper as he adjusted me. I learned that he knew exactly what I was doing because he previously did schutzhund, and even imported a dog from Europe. We discussed long term strategies as well as short term tactics to limit the abuse my body was taking . I went from ignoring some pretty serious chronic pain, just referring to a pinched nerve, that I had carried for six weeks or so, and was normal after the post adjustment soreness left. The exercises and stretches he gave me helped as I continued to decoy. I have been back less than once a year for adjustments.

Recently I dislocated a rib during a coughing fit during a bout of bronchitis. I attended Cecil's IAJJ before I had fully recovered and dislocated it even worse, front and back in the first six hours of the class. There was a two week period of hell, where breathing hurt bad, and sneezing or coughing felt like I was being stabbed. With bronchitis there was a lot of coughing. My new urgent care MD gave me prednisone and antibiotics for the bronchitis, and codeine to reduce coughing. I went back to my DO, and in 10 minutes he had the rib back in place, giving me a 85% reduction in pain. He explained the physiology of what I experienced, and gave me stretches that actually allowed me to reduce the much more seriously dislocated rib. I wasn't trying to reduce it, just trying to stretch it out for some relief. There was a snap as it went back in place, and I ultimately did not need another appointment when Tom Jones jacked me up during Cecil's class. Now almost 4 months later I am 100%.

I lead a fairly physical life. Pleasing a wife, raising three kids and a working dog, and chasing and subduing kids less than half my age at work are all part of my reality. I have a couple of black belts, and work overtime regularly at the local emergency room where I go hands on pretty regularly with drunks and the violent EDPs. Even if the science isn't there, manual adjustments by skilled DOs are invaluable for musculoskeletal problems that pop up . It definitely does not work on everything, but as a part of treatment it is a huge help.

pat

[Paul D]

Good, fast and cheap: choose only 2. Unfortunately this applies to medicine. My wife is an internal medicine doctor so I have some insight into this. Being a primary care provider (PCP) is a low margin gig compared to a subspecialist that can do procedures and thus earn more for the same hours of work. This is why PCPs have to see so many patients with a limited time slot: high volume x low margin = enough to cover overhead and pay self. This is the reason a lot of PCP's sell their practice to hospital networks or medical insurance companies. Once you sell your practice, the way you practice is usually dictated by a guy who never graduated medical school. For those who remain in private practice, they sometimes have to side gigs like weight loss programs, testosterone clinics, minor aesthetic/cosmetic services. Those side gigs make more money, so they are less likely to be interested in dealing with hypertension or diabetes. Sometimes practices will hire 'mid-level providers' (ie nurse practitioners or physician assistants) to provide that first line of care. They have a shallower foundation of training and knowledge but they still can provide great care depending the complexity of the patient and experience of the provider. If you are a sick puppy with a lot of co-morbidities, they may be limited in the care they can provide. You can of course seek out a concierge doctor like Sensei mentioned. They will spend more time with you; provide deep thorough care; and can be at your beckon call 24/7. Of course they are not cheap. A lot of practices are using technology to try to keep costs down; man power use down and to provide better communication to the patient. There are electronic medical records that allow you to log on to see your lab results; schedule; med list and to direct message your PCP. In the end, I recommend asking yourself this when you see your new PCP for the first time:

1. Is he/she nice and personable?
2. Does he/she communicates well?
3. Does the front office seem to have their shit together?

If yes to all above, you probably will have a good PCP.

[Rex G]

Wow, someone can actually choose a doctor? In the USA? I am envious. I can choose a doctor, if am going to pay cash.

We have CIGNA insurance. They are without any shred of honor or integrity. Our primary care physician assignments get changed often, like it or not. I am on my fourth PCP, since early 2018. Not that I have seen any of them; I only go to urgent care, or an ER, as needed, when I am injured.

“Annual physical?” I think my last voluntary, stand-alone check-up was in my early forties; I am almost 58, now.

My “health plan” ID card is incorrect; the named doctor is no longer in the state, or in the network. We were then arbitrarily re-assigned a new PCP, who cannot make referrals to my wife’s cardiologist. Every time we get reassigned primary care doctors, my wife has to get on the phone, to make sure the newest new PCP is in the same referral chain as her cardiologist. When she was employed, she could see her cardiologist directly, but since switching to my insurance, when she retired, she has to get a referral from her PCP.

[Rex G]

I used a DO as a young adult, when I had aged-out of my parent’s health insurance, and had not yet been hired by the PD. I paid cash. Costs were quite reasonable. I tended to get sinus infections during those days, if I remember correctly; glad to have aged-out of that.

[Hambo]

I wouldn't ask friends or neighbors unless they have some real insight into medicine. If you can get other medical professionals to tell you who is competent and who isn't, that's a good start.

[Gun Mutt]

I had trouble with false high blood pressure readings too. Turns out there are different sizes of blood pressure cuffs. I just needed a bigger cuff.

A couple of months ago, an 2017 article from T-Nation (https://www.t-nation.com/living/tip-dont-fall-prey-to-this-medical-mistake) about the inaccuracies of blood pressure testing made it's way onto my screen, so I read it...very interesting indeed!

Last month I'm at my first visit with my new PC, the first nurse takes my bp and says I'm something like 153/98...wtf? I live a pretty healthy life and I'm so very much not stressed about a dr visit...seriously, wtf? Second nurse comes in, says: that cuff is too small, let me get another one. 2min later, I'm 130/88 which exactly where I tend to land.

I'm a fit guy and a longtime lifter, but I'm not gunned up like a bodybuilder; still standing 6' at 225lbs with a 34" waist, I'm not small by any stretch. The morning of my surgery earlier this month, my bp was stupid high again. I said I doubted those numbers and asked her to get a bigger cuff...134/92, I said: yeah, I guess I am a little more stressed than usual this morning.

[Nephrology]

A couple of months ago, an 2017 article from T-Nation (https://www.t-nation.com/living/tip-dont-fall-prey-to-this-medical-mistake) about the inaccuracies of blood pressure testing made it's way onto my screen, so I read it...very interesting indeed!

Last month I'm at my first visit with my new PC, the first nurse takes my bp and says I'm something like 153/98...wtf? I live a pretty healthy life and I'm so very much not stressed about a dr visit...seriously, wtf? Second nurse comes in, says: that cuff is too small, let me get another one. 2min later, I'm 130/88 which exactly where I tend to land.

I'm a fit guy and a longtime lifter, but I'm not gunned up like a bodybuilder; still standing 6' at 225lbs with a 34" waist, I'm not small by any stretch. The morning of my surgery earlier this month, my bp was stupid high again. I said I doubted those numbers and asked her to get a bigger cuff...134/92, I said: yeah, I guess I am a little more stressed than usual this morning.

A single elevated BP reading isn't a big deal.

Best way to evaluate BP if you are worried about it is to get an electronic home cuff (not super accurate FWIW) and take a few readings first thing when you wake up in the AM before you have breakfast or coffee. Seated position, cuffed arm relaxed and at chest height, legs uncrossed.

If those are consistently high then it's worth talking to your PCP about it. HTN is a silent killer, definitely not something to ignore.



We have CIGNA insurance. They are without any shred of honor or integrity. .

This is true of every insurance carrier I've ever had.

Only exception was when I was on mayo clinic insurance while i worked there and getting all of my care at same institution. They were fantastic and easy to work with. Very much the exception and not the rule

[Rex G]

One thing CIGNA did, was to send follow-up mail after we completed an on-line annual survey. These were not sent in plain envelopes, but had writing on the exterior, that REFERENCED HOW I HAD ANSWERED SOME VERY PRIVATE QUESTIONS.

To be clear, this may not have been “big” CIGNA, that sent this privacy-violating mail, but might have been a joint city/CIGNA entity, in the city’s Human Resources department.

Completing that survey was necessary, to avoid hundreds of dollars in surcharges, per year, added to our bi-weekly premiums. So, yes, I have paid hundreds of dollars in surcharges, per year, to protect my privacy.

I have considered getting a post-retirement job, specifically for the health plan, so I can drop CIGNA.

[RoyGBiv]

Another quality I expect from my Dr. is being on time. Sure, emergencies happen, I get it. Before leaving for the Dr, I call the office. Is Dr running on time today? I expect a truthful answer. I suck at waiting. You definitely want me to wait at home/office. If I show up at the office 20 minutes later and don't get seen until an hour past my appointment, buh-bye. (I do ask about what's happened between my call and my arrival).

I had that discussion with my kids PCP a bunch of years ago after waiting almost 90 minutes past our appointment time (after calling before the 5 minute drive). I let him finish the exam and write the prescriptions (ear infection) before I told him why I'd never be back to his office. :mad:

[YVK]

^^^
That reminds me (this is for the OP, in regards to doc's selection): if you find out that your doc is superbly punctual for appointments, you may want to find out why. 90% of situations where I am late during my office hours are due to two reasons:
- There is a problem with someone's else patient in the lab and they call me to come over and help.
- I choose to spend more time with preceding patients than what they are scheduled for, naturally, because their problems merit that. Two-three consecutive patients with multiple active problems can easily put you behind by 45+ min.

I hate to have my patients wait and I am selfish enough too that I really wanna get out of the office on time and without a stack of dictations to be finished at home. Reality of working with real people with real problems has a say in that too. Most patients figure that out and realize that when their own shit hits the fan, they will also get more than 20 min for a visit, charting etc included, from me. Those who value their time and can't wait can see the midlevel providers who don't get pulled out for somebody's else trouble or make any tough calls on their own, and hence are usually very punctual.

[OlongJohnson]

I wouldn't ask friends or neighbors unless they have some real insight into medicine. If you can get other medical professionals to tell you who is competent and who isn't, that's a good start.

My mom chose to be a nurse, among other reasons, so she'd know who the good doctors were. It worked out pretty well, as long as I lived in the area where she worked (which ended after high school).

I've had relatively poor luck relying on recommendations from coworkers for doctors and dentists. Some are just spectacularly bad from the first visit, some take time for you to realize they are unethical hacks.

I'd say it's worth getting a second opinion from time to time even if you think you have a good doctor. I once had a doctor tell me for a few years that a spot on my back was fine. I thought he was a good doctor; unlike most, he actually seemed to listen and think that the person who had 24/7 observation of the body he was examining just might be able to provide useful information. When he changed to another institution, I had to find another doctor. The one I went to referred me to a dermatologist for the spot, who immediately cut it off. I'd been nursing a carcinoma; knew it wasn't right, but the doctor said it was fine.

Another doctor I've seen more recently diagnosed the pain I was having in my foot as Morton's nueroma and recommended surgery. I read on the surgery and decided if I could avoid that, I should. After several years went by, that foot pain turned out to be related to a deteriorating disc in my spine, nothing originating in my foot. So he'd have hacked apart my foot (in ways that never really grow back) to accomplish nothing.

[willie]

Corporate medicine predominates. The company imposes policy and procedures on its doctors. They have less authority than those of yesteryear who owned practices. My opinion is that they may have less satisfaction in practicing medicine. Burnout rate for primary docs is high. You should make certain that your doc enjoys seeing you. Seeing you should soon equate to having a pleasant visit. Remember that he or she hears complaints all day long. Many are bullshit. Some patients are rude. Many are non compliant. The best doc I ever had was female. Brilliant, kind, and sensitive. I don't like my current physician. He's a sawed off little prick who is dense. I hope to find another lady doctor. The last lady doctor I had told me that Willie for a man your age you are in good health, and you're hung like a racehorse. I miss her.

[Hambo]

^^^
That reminds me (this is for the OP, in regards to doc's selection): if you find out that your doc is superbly punctual for appointments, you may want to find out why. 90% of situations where I am late during my office hours are due to two reasons:
- There is a problem with someone's else patient in the lab and they call me to come over and help.
- I choose to spend more time with preceding patients than what they are scheduled for, naturally, because their problems merit that. Two-three consecutive patients with multiple active problems can easily put you behind by 45+ min.

How much time to you allot per patient? In other words, do you plan to see a patient every fifteen minutes? More? Less?

[pangloss]

Regarding hypertension, "white coat hypertension" is a thing. I was "pre-hypertensive" for years. I finally started taking medication, and my blood pressure is well-controlled now at home. However, it's always higher at my physician's office.

How I choose my physician depends on the market. Mississippi is a very medically-underserved state. So often ridiculous wait times are unavoidable. I've had to wait a couple of hours before for a morning appointment before. We don't have enough doctors and the vast majority of the ones we have graduated from the same med school and attended residency at that medical school. In a better market, I looked for a doctor who was at a different institution for medical school and residency. Depending on the situation, I'd chose someone who had completed a fellowship. All that went out the window when I moved back home, so I chose my current PCP based on the fact that his last name is the same as my middle name. After some research, it turns out that he is my ~5th cousin. So far, so good.

[YVK]

How much time to you allot per patient? In other words, do you plan to see a patient every fifteen minutes? More? Less?

My time template is twenty minutes for return visits and one hour for new consultations.

[Josh Runkle]

Long story but I need a new primary care physician. I haven't had a primary care doctor for a long time preferring to use a nurse practitioner instead. I have no idea how to go about finding a good doctor. I know I want someone that stays on top of current research, doesn't prescribe drugs to try to fix every problem, and takes the time to try to understand what the issue is. I hardly ever go to the doctor but I want a good one when I need one. Insurance makes it more difficult but there are still plenty of options in my area.

Any tips?

Any reason not to stay with your nurse practitioner? The last 2 of the top 3 things you said you were interested in are literally why nurse practitioners exist. They most likely do all 3.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

[MGW]

Any reason not to stay with your nurse practitioner? The last 2 of the top 3 things you said you were interested in are literally why nurse practitioners exist. They most likely do all 3.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

They left the profession.