Multiple Doctors Facility - Is your Primary Care Physician of a Husband & Wife Private Practice ?

Interested to see primarily if any of you have your annual physicals at a place where the doctor could be one of multiple in a clinic or group practice, more their choice and not so much yours as to which one you get each time for your physical.

Do any of you go to a husband & wife private practice, and are seen by one & not the other, or by either. more their choice than yours ?

In a practice with multiple doctors, did you ever try to sign up to have a particular one be your PCP, only to be passed off to another ?

Example: My son's pediatrician works at the same office/practice as other pediatricians, but his annual check ups are pretty much with the same doctor each time. Meanwhile, I attend a husband / wife private practice, signed up for a physical with the wife. but then when going for having my blood pressure monitored for assessing if the medication dosage is appropriate, etc, my follow ups seem to be scheduled with the husband. When discussing a next follow up visit, he said i would see "either of us", almost as if it became their choice instead of my personal preference.

Interested to hear if any of you have ever been in a similar situation, etc.

In the distant past (mid to late 1980's) I went to a practice that was run by a husband and wife. I remember seeing both of them at various times, but it seemed that it was my choice as to who I would see -- not theirs. I don't remember ever just showing up and being surprised as to who I would see that day.

Most doctors that I see today are part of a group practice, but my appointments are always for a specific doctor. It's never random for me and I prefer it that way.

My doctor works out of her own private practice. There's usually a female PA working there too.

At my doctors practise, it is run by mother,son and daughter,all doctors

I have an assigned physician at a large HMO here in So Cal. For appointments scheduled ahead of time - i.e. physicals, follow-ups etc. my appointment will be with her. Problem is the appointment is usually several weeks away. If its something urgent, such as a minor injury, unexplained pain, infection etc. a member will get whoever is available at whichever facility is available. They also have urgent care clinics where you have no idea which doctor you will see.

At my doctors practise, it is run by mother,son and daughter,all doctors

So do you wind up seeing any of them, depending on how things get scheduled, or can you stick to one in particular?

That's really the question i'm driving at.

For most purposes, I go to a large group practice with over a hundred docs, including many specialists. My primary is a family practice doc, but I also regularly see an endocrinologist and pphthalmologist at the same group. I have also seen a urologist and gastroenterologist there in the past, as well as going for physical therapy. My cardiologist is in a different large group practice. My chiropractor is a solo. My dentist is in a small practice of three.

I've used the same large group practice since birth with hundreds of doctors over multiple locations. I prefer staying with a single doctor to build a relationship, so even if I used a private private with just a family of doctors, I'd pick one and stay with him or her.

I prefer staying with a single doctor to build a relationship, so even if I used a private private with just a family of doctors, I'd pick one and stay with him or her.

I would think this would be the sentiment of all patients. And so what i'm wondering is if anyone's ever been subjected to being "morphed", "transferred", "dumped over to", however you want to call it, to another doctor within the same practice.

I would think this would be the sentiment of all patients. And so what i'm wondering is if anyone's ever been subjected to being "morphed", "transferred", "dumped over to", however you want to call it, to another doctor within the same practice.

My original doctor after I moved out of pediatrics quit less than a year after my first physical with him but I wasn't automatically moved to another PCP. At my clinic, it's the patients responsibility to find another PCP though the outgoing doctor had a list of around 5 doctors in the practice that he recommended. I instead went with a coworker's recommendation and I've been very pleased with my care under him.

My girlfriend's Gynecology practice has three male doctors. Kind of funnyt to see a picture of all three of them. One looks really young, then there's salt-and-pepper middle aged doc, and an older, heavy-set gray haired doc.

My doctor is in a small company practice. They have 4 locations around the city. But at his location, its him and a woman that work at the location he is at. I switched to him about 7 years ago because he is a good gay doctor. I refuse to let another doctor see me, even if he is gone!! Thats about the only time anyone see's another doctor at the place I go....

When my PCP in a multiple doctors practice had to move, she gave me a recommendation of other female doctors at the same location to choose. Was never dumped or automatically assigned to another doctor

In the practice I go to, there are 5 doctors. When I became a patient there, I chose one as my PCP, and he is the one I see when I make a future appointment. On the few occasions I have needed to see a doctor for an acute problem, I was able to be seen the same day, although not by my PCP, but rather by which ever doctor had an available time open on that day. However, there seems to be very good communication among the doctors in the practice because my PCP always has one of the nurses call to followup with me the next day to make sure I am feeling better and to let me know to call if things get worse or I have any questions or problems with any medications I may have been prescribed. I received the same kind of followup call recently when I needed to go to a walk-in clinic (after normal business hours) attached to the wider network of providers to which his practice is affiliated.

My doctors are in an office which always has had at least three doctors, and now may have a fourth. I've actually been seen by all of them. Sometimes I've started a physical with one, but for whatever reason, one needed to step out (maybe to take an emergency call, maybe they switched patients because one's specialty was needed for someone else, whatever,) and another one finishes the physical with me. They are two males and one female doctor, and maybe the fourth, now, is a female. I'm fine with seeing whichever of them. It's certainly better than sitting there waiting forever for the one I started with to come back.

Once, I started with one of the male doctors for the questionnaire, then he stepped out and a female came in, she asked me to undress and she did the "physical" part of the exam, then the male came back for the final bit, then I got dressed and they both saw me off in the lobby. And, of course, there have been times when one will want another one to come and look at something on me somewhere. That even happened where I got undressed and then three of them came in to look at something, while I was naked. It always works out fine, as far as I'm concerned.

They also sometimes have medical students who sit in on physicals, to observe or even to perform the exam. But, they ask permission from the patient, first.

My doctor is in an internal medicine practice with several other doctors but my physical appointment is always scheduled with him specifically.

My Fam. Pract. Doc is in a solo practice. His wife is an R.N. and works in the office, along with their daughter, who is a C.M.A. The daughter does all the intake vitals and gives injections and blood draws. The RN wife does all the insurance stuff and phones in Rx's.

If patients are in need of a Dr. on weekends, or while he is vacationing, he has other local F.P. Docs cover for him.

I am fortunate because I have been able to pick my FP Dr. by calling on them and seeing which ones are sharp and up to date on many things, like antibiotic and antidepressant therapies. If they are very well versed on things like, hormone replacement therapy, gastroenterology issues, respiratory diseases, nutrition and other facets of medicine, I am pretty sure I will get top treatment as a family member. I have been able to select ALL of my family practice Dr.'s and have never been disappointed. I wish I could say that about the specialists I've been sent to.

My current doctor is in a group practice of 5 or 6 doctors, plus 1 NP, all sharing the same office building. You never are assigned a random doctor (or first one available) for any visit, whether for a physical or illness. If the doctor needs to miss a day (whether he gets sick, or for any emergency), his receptionist will call to reschedule if possible. The exception to this is when the doctor is out for an extended amount of time, for example, the doctor goes on vacation or has an extended illness or surgery. Then, your doctor has one of the others available to cover for them. Then if you call to schedule something, they will try to schedule you out farther with your doctor if at all possible. Otherwise, they will advise you that your doctor is away and ask if you would like to see the one that is covering for them.

My previous PCP was part of a husband/ wife practice, they also had an NP. Their practice was the same as I previously described. I've never showed up to my doctor's office not knowing who I was going to see.

When we belonged to an HMO, it sometimes happened that a NP did a check up not the doctor. The NPs were assigned to a doctor so it wasn't that random. There was no real difference between an NP administered exam and the doctor's exam.

For the past 20 years we have only seen our PCP unless it was an emergency and she wasn't available. That happened only once. I'm also amazed at how good her memory is - she asks about our family, kids, are we still getting out for long walks etc.....nice to know we are more than just a number to her.

I have had three primary care physicians during the bulk of my adult life. The second was in solo practice and he was the only one in the county under my insurance plan. Fortunately, it was only 4 years. The other two were members of a multiple physician practice and I specifically chose my doctor based on recommendations. The only time I was seen by a PA in the practice was for scheduled immunizations.

.. The second was in solo practice and he was the only one in the county under my insurance plan. Fortunately, it was only 4 years.

Sounds like your experiences in those 4 years were not that good.....

Sounds like your experiences in those 4 years were not that good.....

I actually moved out of state after those four years, but my experience with this doctor was not good. On more than one occasion, I had to remind him that one of the meds he prescribed required routine bloodwork. And on at least one occasion he tried to prescribe a drug that was contraindicated because of another drug I was taking. If I had another insurable choice for a primary care doc, I would have switched. One of the reasons that I deplore the insurance controlled medicine that is the norm in this country.

When we belonged to an HMO, it sometimes happened that a NP did a check up not the doctor. The NPs were assigned to a doctor so it wasn't that random. There was no real difference between an NP administered exam and the doctor's exam.

I am going for some cardiac stuff soon and have been told that a NP will be doing the procedure. I did send them a message asking them why and they basically told me a NP does all these procedures and to STFU although not in so many words. I don't have anything against nurses, my mom was one but I would be more comfortable with a doc. That said I zipped it and got with their program.

... And on at least one occasion he tried to prescribe a drug that was contraindicated because of another drug I was taking.

I try my best to resist taking suggested drugs, unless it's absolutely necessary. They wanted me to start taking a water pill along with the metoprolol and I was like "no way". I'm a hypocrite for my willingness to earn a living working in pharma companies for so long. Yet I would be the last to want to put any of that shit in my system.

I try my best to resist taking suggested drugs, unless it's absolutely necessary.....

My father and hid brother were pharmacists, which is why I learned at an early age to question every medicine that is offered to or prescribed for me.

My father and hid brother were pharmacists, which is why I learned at an early age to question every medicine that is offered to or prescribed for me.

You know, actually pharmacists know A LOT BETTER than doctors, what you should take for what. If pharmacists could only write scripts, we could cut out the middle man, and lots of time and money wasted. I mean, doctors serve their purpose. not so much when all you need is a script.

My current primary care is a practice with, I think, six doctors and about 16-18 physician assistants. Each PA works with a specific doc, so I guess 3 or 4 PAs per doctor. When I first called as a new patient, assignment was to be random, but I mentioned on PA's name as having been referred to me. Actually, I don't care for her much - she's nice enough but I think rather superficial in examinations. Not sure how to go about changing to another PA.

At my previous primary care, I was initially assigned to one of the partners. I saw him for several years, but he moved to open a new branch, so I was passed off to a new doctor at the practice. He lasted, I think, about two years and he left too. The next time I went in for a physical I was seen by an LPN. Then passed off to another senior doctor for the next couple of years, and then he retired rather abruptly. At my next appointment, when I thought I was seeing him, I was instead seen by a female physician at the practice. I saw her for several years, then, due to a scheduling conflict, I was seen by a female PA for a couple of years, and then a female LPN (and then I moved). Now, almost all of my health care providers have been female. Generally, I find them to be more thorough, more caring, and less likely to brush things off - that is, until I started seeing my current PA. 😢

We Were ssigned to a Urology PA that is a total joke. I chose a different doc because of this. Doc may be good, but his pa staffs sucked.

Mine is not, but like others here I have stayed with the same clinic over the years and only had 2 primaries. Right now, I'm very happy with mine. She cares about me and basically makes sure she does what is needed, especially my urinary retention, incontinence, mental health, and constipation. When I have a issue with any of the above, I simply email her, and she is on it.