Lack of hands on medical care

I am becoming so frustrated and feel I am being under served when it comes to my medical care. Anyone else feel this way recently?

I left my primary doc because I was passed from doc to doc to NP to PA.... no one ever followed up with previous appointment out comes. For example, the NP sent me to a specialist and requested I follow up with the doc. No problem I thought. I returned to speak to the doc and she got highly irate AT me for even going to the specialist. The specialist found nothing conclusive, in the doc's opinion. She told me to drop the issue and move on. Then I was told I had to come in for a 'pre op physical' and "it would last 45 min or longer" then the PA came in to the exam room, he spoke to me for about 2 minutes, left the room for 4 minutes and he returned to tell me to have a nice day. Then my other care doc almost never even touches me! Instead she asks me a question, i respond that the pain increases.... or I have a concern about.... and all she can respond is, 'how does THAT make YOU feel?'

Again, she never touches me other than to check my pulse at my wrist and a quick listen to my heart and lungs.

I saw a comment on another message board of this new issue with doctors only being interested in the keyboard and rushing to see the next patient. The, if you will, hands on care, is now gone form our medical coverage. In the near future I see appointments will be a 3 to 5 limit text message, exam on the cell phone.

I even spoke my concerns to another doc I had visited who asked me to detail my primary care doc and how I felt I was being treated. When I broke my 'silence' (I seldom ever speak up for myself in fear of coming across as a weirdo or pushy) to him he followed suit and told me to have a nice day before even examining me.

Whats your medical exam experience at the rushed doctors office these days been like? Just wondering if I am alone.............................

It sounds like you've had a string of incredibly bad luck finding thorough doctors. I can assure that they are still out there, but maybe not as many as before. Many of them do have the pressure of turning patients around quickly so they can bill as many as possible. That's not necessarily a horrible thing. After all, they are trying to make a living too.

My suggestion is to keep looking for that one doctor that treats you the way you prefer to be treated. Even if your insurance is actually paying the bulk of the bill, you are still the consumer of your own health care. If you don't like what you're receiving, find another doctor. If that one isn't any better, then find another one. Wash, rinse, repeat. Sooner or later you will find one that you like.

There's an article on Medscape today about how millennials find it too much of a pain to go to doctors.

The attitude I get from some people is "couldn't you just figure it out from my text messages and phone something in? Actually, like, you know, being examined and stuff is so stupid, and besides, I have to find more Pokemon!"

What you're seeing is what both doctors and patients have allowed medicine to be reduced to. In addition to treating you in the 8 whole minutes many corporate environments are allowing, the whole thing needs to be documented in the computer in that time as well.

Find a doctor who had a practice that had a membership model.. Sometimes known as a "concierge practice". Yep, it's expensive. You get what you pay for. Interview the doctor before you join. Let him or her know your expectations. Then, if it's s good fit, sign up.

Here's the economic reality, Jimmy John. Your insurance is paying that office somewhere between $35 and $100 for your visit, depending on the complexity. Out of that comes rent, utilities, staffing costs, supplies, and overheard. Finding good old fashioned hands on care in our present environment is a challenge.

We run lean and mean, which lets us spend more time with patients. In a two doctor practice we have two full time bookkeeping people just to keep billing and insurance strait. One front desk person is on whenever we're open. One to two other people on to handle charts, records, patient requests, prior authorizations on medications and tests. All of this may be why you're having trouble finding the kind of doctor you want.

We ARE out there, but finding us is hard. I do not run a concierge practice, but we spend more time with our patients than most.

Hope you find someone who is a better fit for your needs.

Doc

Last pre op physical I did was indeed 45 minutes long. Here's the breakdown :

Review notes from specialist: 10 minutes

Review labs and tests with patient: 10 minutes

Examine patient: 10 minutes

Discuss weird EKG findings with cardiologist 10 minutes.

Create two page long clearance note: 5 minutes.

Patent needs to be there for the entire time, except maybe the last five minutes.

To be fair, though, based on your post, jhg, you should find a smaller practice where you aren't just a number.

Doc

I have to agree with Doc here on all points, because he is right, not because he is my boyfriend, just sayin. Other things to consider is that a patients diagnosis is 90 percent based on the patient history, and 10 percent hands on or physical exam.

You want hands on care, go to a doctor who is an independent, and not connected to the local hospital.

Hope this helps?

Mashie

I agree, with all that has been said, but would like to add: I have Humana as a Medicare supplement, and the 15 minutes I'm allowed for my annual Dr's apt; is $345.00 + my $10.00 co-pay. Then, on top of that, I have to fight everyone, all year to get it paid for. I cannot continue all the medical supplies I need, as well as a couple prescriptions, without that annual visit. Then. . .The ostomy supplies I get monthly is a continual battle to get them delivered, get them paid for, and keep everyone's bookwork in order, that is involved!! In a nutshell, the medical set-up in this country, in every direction, SUCKS!! It's a continual battle to keep it all in the right direction!! All my senior friends, no matter which suppliers and Drs. they have, are ALL having the same problems and frustrations!! Trying to resolve problems via phone, is a 45 minute wait, to talk to an idiot that couldn't figure out how to get out of a wet paper sack!! Via letters, works better, but usually there is never a resolve, but just more jockeying, back and forth!! Sorry, but I have so much frustrations over the fact that Drs. are no-longer allowed to make decisions for their patients, as it seems that the providers, are now running the Drs. offices, instead of the Drs. . .Mike 😢

Mike, I am sorry you are having all those issues. I wish there was something I could help you with. Your post about Doctors being able to make the best decisions for their patients doesn't always happen any more. That is not the natural order of things. I am hoping something changes with our new president, whomever that may be.

Mashie

Amen, Mashie!!. . .AMEN!! 😃