I hate finding new doctors!

I live in a rural community and the nearest hospital is about 20 miles away... and it just earned a "D" grade from the state. So, I'm looking in a different direction.

The next nearest hospital is about 30 minutes away, but the only primary care office in that town is currently taking appointments for new patients a year out.

Going the other direction, the nearest hospital is about 45 minutes away (with no traffic). They are taking new patients with MDs, Nurse Practitioners, and PAs. I did get to speak with the "duty nurse" over the phone, but could barely understand her due to a heavy accent (English is not her first language). There is very little info on their website for their providers other than credentials. So, it's basically luck if the draw. A tough (and flawed) way to pick your primary health advocate.

I outlived my PCP, then his replacement (further away) got assigned a position in a town 35 miles away, her replacement(same office) has yet to see me. Then my most excellent specialist stopped seeing patients when she switched to surgery, so back to the one (closer) I’d seen years ago.

Come January, I will have new insurance so no idea if I keep what I have.

I understand well. It makes a difference if you feel comfortable with your doctor. They’re not all the same. Many rush you through the appointment, and others will keep you waiting, without any concern. Then, there are doctors who aren’t on top of the latest developments and treatments. And there are those who are just in it for the money.

I get it. We moved to a new smaller town and almost nobody is taking new patients. Feels like everyone here already has their doctors set and there’s no room for newcomers 😭

I'm going to have to go through that, primary is switching practice models or closing completely, she said she'd refer me to another provider, but whoever that is has big shoes to fill and my nonsense tolerance has decreased over the years.

When we moved - retired- I asked for introduction appointments for our PCP. Didn’t return to the first one, but was fine with the second and stayed with her. Both were fine with an intro visit - which was mostly to see how well we communicated. It takes a few visits to build confidence with a doc, but it’s easy to tell if you just don’t click. My doc does refer us to specialists, and is open to our preference if we suggest a different doc, even outside of her medical group. Fortunately, we have options. It’s tough when you don’t have choices!

Some of my office patients who moved to a smaller town still continue to follow with me for regular follow up visits. Some don't mind driving for an hour. For urgent/simple follow ups i have done virtual video appointments with established patients. Its important to find a good primary care doctor whom you can trust. It helps with routine follow up, preventive-screening care, avoiding duplication of the blood tests, appropriate referrals.

I have seen some who spend less time/order unnecessary tests.

Hearmyheart

When I started college down here I asked my doctor whom I grew up seeing if she could recommend one down here. I told her I wanted one that does everything she does which is everything. I told her I did not want another doctor for pelvic exams etc. She found me the one I am with now and I like her a lot.

@FredD we have a similar issue in our area. The closest hospitals are 30 minutes away, in an opposite direction. The one we actually use is 55 minutes away. We use it because it is the building I am comfortable with and have known all my life. I can't say that they are bad hospitals, thankfully.

Now back to your question of finding a new doctor/PCP. We did this 15 years ago. We had an awful experience with a nurse at the office only 15 minutes away. She was demeaning, dismissed my views, degraded me as a parent, and just exuded superiority over us, as her patient, just because she was the medical professional. We have never stepped foot in that office since. Our new PCP is 25 minutes away. But the experience has been so much more positive. We have never regretted changing.

This PCP stepped in and helped get me a better surgeon, with a better bedside manner, when I broke my arms last year. A surgeon that cared about me as his patient. Not just another surgery on his books.

@FredD we have a similar issue in our area. The closest hospitals are 30 minutes away, in an opposite direction. The one we actually use is 55 minutes away. We use it because it is the building I am comfortable with and have known all my life. I can't say that they are bad hospitals, thankfully.

Now back to your question of finding a new doctor/PCP. We did this 15 years ago. We had an awful experience with a nurse at the office only 15 minutes away. She was demeaning, dismissed my views, degraded me as a parent, and just exuded superiority over us, as her patient, just because she was the medical professional. We have never stepped foot in that office since. Our new PCP is 25 minutes away. But the experience has been so much more positive. We have never regretted changing.

This PCP stepped in and helped get me a better surgeon, with a better bedside manner, when I broke my arms last year. A surgeon that cared about me as his patient. Not just another surgery on his books.

You certainly make me feel lucky. My hospital is just over a mile from my house and my doctor is about 2 miles. The hospital has been terrific along with their nurses and I like my doctor better every time I see her. I just wish I would see her every time instead of an NP. The NPs are fine but when I have an appointment with my doctor I'd prefer to see her.

I dread the day I have to find a new PCP. My doctor is great. She is kind, takes the time to actually talk with me, she is very thorough when doing her exams on me. She is a true professional gem 💎

My hospital is the same one where I was born 83 years ago when it was only a bit larger than my house and smelled like ether everywhere but the front desk. It has grown to be about 40 times that size now and the ether smell is gone.

My sub's cardiac doctor has his 25th anniversary last year. I'm not excited to get the news he will retire. He is so easy to talk to and get information from in a way we understand.

My sub's cardiac doctor has his 25th anniversary last year. I'm not excited to get the news he will retire. He is so easy to talk to and get information from in a way we understand.

I like my cardiac doctor, he got me the first time I met him. My wife and I were sitting in his exam room waiting for him to come in. When he did, the first thing he said to me was "You should be dead by now. People who had what you had (CABGx6) 20 years ago usually come back for more in 10 years and don't make it to 20". He was quite impressed with the job the surgeon did on the CABGs and wanted to know who he was. I brought a diagram with me I was given showing what the did which I gave him.

I would talk around. Nothing speaks like experience. Even better if you can get a good doctor you trust to give you a recommendation because they do talk and they pick up on things.

My doctor moved and TBH I really wanted to do the "just vanish" thing, but I have one Rx med that makes my life much easier, and of course it isn't one of the ones you can get off of slightly shady online sites. Still pushing off a visit as long as possible.

I've gotten lucky with my PCP. Its my first time ever having one as an adult. The practice is four NP's and my normal one is on maternity leave, the one covering for her is just as awesome. Plus they all have a great level of knowledge with a variety of things they've worked in so broad knowledge base.

So, an update.

I went for an appointment with my urologist last week. I've seen several doctors at this practice, but the one constant over the years has been their nurse. She has been there through numerous embarrassing and intimate experiences (and is one of the reasons I have stayed with that practice).

So, after the doctor left and the nurse was helping me get cleaned up, I mentioned that I was looking for a new primary care provider. We talked about why (not thorough enough, always rushed, superficial) and she quickly recommended a certain doctor and said "Fred, having seen you here for years, I think she'd be perfect for you."

So I looked her up online - she appears to be in her late 50s-early 60s. Specialized in Internal Medicine. Good reviews for thoroughness, detail, and bedside manner.

New patient appointment is in two weeks. I'll give an update after that.

I have my appointment upcoming this week - when they called to remind me I asked if I needed to fast for the blood test or anything, and they said "Oh no, this is just a consultation visit. You'll do about 30 minutes with the doctor and it will largely be an interview about your personal health history, your family medical history, and any major concerns. You'll also get to ask her questions - but unless there is a pressing need, the questions should be to help you determine if she will be a good fit as your primary care provider. If all goes well, we'll schedule your initial physical in a couple of weeks."

Interesting... I've never come across this before

I have my appointment upcoming this week - when they called to remind me I asked if I needed to fast for the blood test or anything, and they said "Oh no, this is just a consultation visit. You'll do about 30 minutes with the doctor and it will largely be an interview about your personal health history, your family medical history, and any major concerns. You'll also get to ask her questions - but unless there is a pressing need, the questions should be to help you determine if she will be a good fit as your primary care provider. If all goes well, we'll schedule your initial physical in a couple of weeks."

Interesting... I've never come across this before

That is basically my approach when I see a new doctor - I want to find out a bit about them and if I am comfortable both with their medical ability and communication/interaction skills. I think it's a good idea for both the doctor and prospective patient.

So I met with the lady MD who is to be my new primary care provider.

The appointment started with the young, fairly heavy-set nurse taking my vitals and a brief history. Very friendly and cheery. That took maybe 5 to 7 minutes.

I sat alone for maybe 5 minutes before the MD came in. She's middle aged, attractive and short - of Indian descent. Her English was fairly heavy accented, and throughout the visit I had to ask her to repeat herself 2 or 3 times (I don't think this will be problematic, but we'll see). She asked about my medical history, my family medical history, medications, social history, and any pressing concerns. Then she did a quick HEENT and auscultation. Total, she spent about 45 minutes with me, so I spent about an hour in the exam room.

My physical is scheduled for mid-January. I'll update then (although probably in a new thread).

Went in to the new doctor's office today to have labs done for my physical next week. Pretty uneventful, but I really like having labs done before the physical so that the doctor has the results when I go in and can discuss anything of note.

Oh, no fun going to new doc - dislike all the paperwork and questions to go through!

I had to find a new doctor 10 years ago and it was not fun. Difficult getting to know her and having her get to know me. I just saw her a few hours ago and she is wonderful but it took a long time to develop that rapport.

I have had the same primary care/family doctor for 50 years. He is semi-retired but still takes on some of his older patients, like myself. Mostly those I suspect who don't take much maintenance and aren't professional hypochondriacs.

He is about the same age as myself, knows me and my quirks quite well, trusts my self-diagnosis also fairly well when I call to make an appointment.

But when he is gone I truly do not know what I will do. I sincerely hope he will outlast me.

The medical people in my extended family report that rural medical offices are closing when their physicians retire, die, or can no longer afford to practice while losing money. Clinics and small hospitals are just scraping by.

A medical practice away from population centers requires staff dedicated to patients' care rather than to making a living--because some simply cannot. Lots of their patients are poor and few have good--or any--medical insurance. Doctors write off a lot of debts and operate at a financial loss, or just barely break even, while their more urban colleagues are literally rich. (My doctor's house is on Zillow: $850,000.)

It's easy to see why healthcare in rural areas is increasingly scarce, but it sure ain't right. I suspect it won't improve unless the US emulates Canada and most of Europe in having the government fund all health care, hiring staff and building facilities to give access to medical care to everyone.

We moved a few years ago and were lucky to like the first doctor we tried. (First dentist, too.) But it's really a crapshoot, isn't it?

In our experience, it’s not just the doctor, but the entire medical team you’re buying into when you choose a new doctor. When my wife was diagnosed with bladder retention issues we were referred to the clinic’s urologist. We liked him but after two or three appointments where we saw the PA and nurses we were totally turned off to his office. We had a toxic distrusting relationship with them so we switched to another urology clinic. The new doc and his staff were fantastic. Unfortunately after three years that clinic closed for some political reasons between the doctors and clinic administrators, so last summer we ended up back at the original clinic we went to. They were even more toxic than before. My wife was experiencing some moderate abdominal pain, and a PCR test showed a rare UTI. Never heard from the doc about follow ups. Fortunately, the doc we liked had just joined the local hospital clinic and we switched back to him. He brought his PA and staff with him. Treated us like family and ordered several tests.

The medical people in my extended family report that rural medical offices are closing when their physicians retire, die, or can no longer afford to practice while losing money. Clinics and small hospitals are just scraping by.

A medical practice away from population centers requires staff dedicated to patients' care rather than to making a living--because some simply cannot. Lots of their patients are poor and few have good--or any--medical insurance. Doctors write off a lot of debts and operate at a financial loss, or just barely break even, while their more urban colleagues are literally rich. (My doctor's house is on Zillow: $850,000.)

It isn’t just the money…. Burnout and overload are factors that small town and rural doctors live with. A family member is a retired orthopedic surgeon in a smal town (30k population) in a rural community. He was on-call constantly, and farm injuries were common cases he dealt with. He was salaried and did ok, but when he retired they brought in a new guy right out of residency at a higher salary and with strict stipulations on how often he would not be on call. He stayed at the small hospital for two years to sweeten his resume, then took a job at a large metro hospital.

It isn’t just the money…. Burnout and overload are factors that small town and rural doctors live with. A family member is a retired orthopedic surgeon in a smal town (30k population) in a rural community. He was on-call constantly, and farm injuries were common cases he dealt with.

@Rigel - similar to my situation. My town is less than 1000 people, and the whole county is less than 10,000. We have a few doctors in the county, but most folks will drive 30 to 45 minutes to a town or city with a hospital. The good news is that the state university Goodison system is opening clinics and small regional hospitals to serve these rural areas.

So far, I've had a good, although limited, experience with this medical practice. I could have gotten seen sooner if I had elected to be seen by their nurse practitioners, but with my most recent experience with the PAs at the last practice, I elected to hold out and see an MD.

My appointment is this coming week, I'll update here for those interested.

Had my appointment with my new primary care doc this morning. Here's the link:

https://en.zity.biz/index.php?mx=blog;ox=showpage;pg=7914