Tired of Doctors. Are All Patients Just Numbers?

N.,

I have a great OB/Gyn in Plano. I know that would be a long drive for you, but he and his staff are worth it. Dr. James D. Smrekar with North Texas OB/Gyn. ###-###-####

The way I have found all my awesome doctors is by asking around anyone who I know...do you have a great family doctor/dermatologist/OB/GYN...etc etc. When the same name pops up a couple of times then you go see them.

My primary care doctor recommended my OB/GYN and my OB/GYN recommenced my pediatrician (the one his own kids go see)...the pediatrician was also recommenced by 3 of the 6 doctors in my primary care doctor's office (I asked the office manager to do a poll for me on who their kids/grand kids went to for a pediatrician).

You just have to ask and then shop around...I love all my doctors that I have...I need a great dermatologist, anybody know one??

I've lived from east coast to west coast and have generally found great doctors wherever we've been stationed. SO my thought is ... if you can NEVER find a great doctor ... either you have really bad instincts and/or don't ask the right questions when interviewing a doctor .... or (and I'm not trying to be mean) maybe it's you.

The only suggestion I can give you is to start looking for a new doctor. But do so with a list of questions for the staff AND the doctor. If you don't like how they respond ... move on. Keep going till you find one that fits MOST of your MOST important criteria, because no doctor or doctor's office staff is going to be perfect. They are human after all.

And momof3girls ... yeah today ... most doctors ARE underpaid. Their incomes have gone down and their costs for doing business keep going up. ESPECIALLY malpractice insurance for the sue happy country we have become. Not to mention the debt most of them start out in.

There are a few out there still. I would give you my doctor's number, but it would be a long drive every time. I'm gonna brag on him.

-They always call me back the same day.
-The longest I have waited is 20 min.
-They draw blood right there in their office
-M-F from 8-12 you can do walk-in apt for blood being drawn.
-Doc will see you the same day if you are sick. I once called at 8:00 and my apt was at 10:30.
-The longest I have EVER been in his office was 45 min.
-Nice friendly staff that remembered my name on only the 2nd visit.

I just love my doctor and with all the problems that I am currently having it is nice to know that I can call them and they know who I am and what is going on without putting me on hold for 30 min to figure it out.

O they still do FREE yep FREE samples of medicine and will call in a script without you having to go to the office.

I love him.

I have always had a great experience with the nurse practicioners. And for some reason have always had a somewhat negative experience with doctors. Does the office have an NP?

Sorry Momof3girls, I agree with Angi C. Doctors are underpaid. Medical school costs are huge, most of them have student loans in the $100K+ range, and the malpractice insurance alone is enough to discourage anyone from wanting to do this.

I live in the Kansas City area and my doctors (OB/Pediatrician/GP/Derm) are all awesome. I receive call backs, my doctors all take the time to listen to me, the rare prescription I need is called in immediately (usually, this is done electronically- don't understand why that's a problem for your ob staff??? Maybe that is a good question to ask at your next "interview"). I feel that my family and I have all received excellent care.

So N. G., don't lose hope. There ARE good doctors out there. I'm sorry your situation is so frustrating! Good luck!

First of all they are not underpaid. If you don't like how you are treated write the doctor a certified letter and fire him. Doctors are a dime a dozen. Don't pay for crappy service. As for OB's, hire a midwife. Much better care, not to mention safer and healthier for the mother and baby. Midwives also do well woman care.

Most of the doctors I am involved with are super nice and always call me by my name, they also take their time with me (do I have questions, what is the next step, or what to look out for, how long it will take to heal and so on). Most times I am in and out with in 30 mins, but I am ok with it because I am a busy person or I just want to go home and rest.

When I make appointment they always ask why, I tell them, the nurse take m back asks why I am there, I tell her/him, then when the doctor comes in he/she asks again why I am in... I just think it is common for them to ask even if it is written down in front of them. Now some, like my daughters ped she puts it nicely like "oh I see here there is something bothering your ear" so she personalizes it. While others just ask, which is fine it is there job to make sure what they are looking for or what is bothering you.

I think as long as they are giving you a proper diagnose in a timely fashion, and are not rude to you it is ok. I am not expecting much when I go in besides being asked what is wrong, get a check over and get a diagnose with details on what to expect.

With the prescription or information that I need to take to another place/doctor I DO NOT leave without that info or written prescription in my hand. That way I know I have what I want and cut out the busy doctors. My daughter's ped is amazing and faxes the prescription while we are still sitting there so it is already being filled while we drive to pick it up, AMAZING!!! So there are awesome one out there, there are ok ones, and yes there are the iffy ones.

my endocrinologist is okay.
my daughters' pediatrician is awesome. He became awesome because after a few visits I told him I needed him invested in one of my daughters. Not just a number, or a faceless patient but that I was looking for someone who will help me take a good care of my daughter's help. This was 2.5 years ago. He an older doctor. Very swamped. Many times irritable, yet when he sees my daughter, he puts all that aside and starts a conversation with her. He then turns to me and discusses options, even when we're dealing with a simple cold. Every time we finish a visit I thank him for being an awesome doctor. He appreciates it. He has also commented on the fact that I always know what should be done, and that I always respect his decision. If he retires, I will be screwed.
My daughter's ear specialist: awesome. not a people person, not really chatty but on top of her game. And she always begins with: if she were my daughter...
That seals the deal for me. She is it.
Yes we have had our share of ignorant doctors. But great ones are out there too. For the first time in 7 years am I completely at easy when it comes to my kids' doctors.

I have a great Dr., but I can totally understand where you are coming from. My Dr. is older and we have been going to him for 15-20 years. I don't know what the heck I am going to do when he retires.....(sob :0( sob). I hope that I can find someone that I am as comfortable with as I am with him.

All my docs are great,the pediatric office we go to,my Obgyn,my dermatologist,their dentist,their ENT& my primary care dr they all give us the time of day hear us out & know why we are there most often times I receive al call back with in the hour & if needed are in the office same day. Er visits the docs are also great.Sorry your having a rought ime finding good care.

There are a lot of good doctors out there--ask your friends to recommend drs that they like. To have less aggravation, make sure you like the doctor, his/her staff and the way the clinic operates. It is not unreasonable for the doctor to re-verify the reason for your visit. You may not have been comfortable discussing your situation with the medical assistant who put you in the exam room or you may have thought of another issue you need to discuss while you were sitting and waiting. You don't know how many office schedules go off kilter, when patient's say, oh, doctor, one more thing-as they are heading out the door.

So- asking the patient why you are there is for clarification??? hmm i'll have to think about that, IT's been a pet peeve of mine FOREVER that they can't take 60 seconds to open my chart and see that i'm here for a work physical or taht i was there for an ear infection three weeks ago and HE wanted me to come back and have it checked. Because really what would they do if i made an appointment because of my hacking cough and showed up for the appointment and told them i wanted my toenails clipped, coughing and hacking the whole time.

maybe i'm tired and cranky or maybe i'm like you and just too frustrated to be hopping from dr to dr every year because they are all crazy nutballs with the personality of a clod of dirt.

ANNNND, does dr hopping cause problems with your insurance???

I have had 3 different eye doctors, 2 OB/Gyns in the 7 years since I relocated to be near my husband. Sometimes you just have to "shop around." Now I am very satisfied with my family's doctors!

I agree--treat them as you would a carpenter or plumber--if the service is sub-par--leave! And be sure to tell them WHY!

There are good doctors out there, have faith.

I've had very bad doctors and very good doctors. When I do find a good one I hold on to them tightly.

Just last week I got a call from one doctor that was actually checking up on my 2 month old! I had taken her to the hospital over the weekend and he was the one who checked her out. Then last Wed. I receive a call from this doctor wondering how she was doing. I was shocked! A doctor doing a progress call? On his own time? I was amazed and thanked him for the extra mile he does for his patients. I know that he is an exceptional case, but they are out there.

My kids pediactric is awesome too.

When I do have a bad doctor (and believe me I've had some real weenies) I call them out on it. I've been in and out of hospitals so much I am not shy to speakup and report them.

I have an AMAZING OB! She has always remembered me and been very personable. I'm not sure if she always just read my chart before coming in to see me at each visit but she could go as far as to remember what I was having, things that I told her about work, and when I went to her for post partum, she provided me with tons of resource information, not just pills.

However, the doctor I had before I got pregnant was terrible. She couldn't ever remember why I was there, even though I just told the nurse, and the person who scheduled the appointment, and sometimes SHE scheduled the appointment. She also completely disregarded how I felt about things. I still slightly blame her for getting pregnant because she switched my birth control from the combo pill (which I'd been taking since I was 16) to the mini pill (which is easier to screw up on), didn't tell me she was going to do it, then when I asked her why she did (after finding out I was pregnant), she quoted some research study that said that combo pills can sometimes cause more headaches in woman. I'd been taking it since I was 16! I think I would've known if I had bad headaches and honestly, you should talk to me about switching, especially when I'm asking you to give me the same thing that I've been taking forever! I think some of them are so smart that they don't have very good social skills.

As a patient we need to do our due diligence to find the right physicians for our family, just as I would do with anyone I do business with. There are awesome doctors out there and I am extremely happy with every one of mine. I'm glad you acknowledge that doctors are underpaidand and overworked. Situations certainly have changed and the premiums they pay for the privilege of treating you are through the roof. Just to respond to the poster below: we don't "fire" doctors, we change practices.

IMHO managed care (insurance) and the pharmaceutical industry has combined to create a monster.

I'm dismayed with the state of health care. So, I totally get what you're saying.

Sorry to say but it's only going to get a LOT worse with Obamacare coming down the pike.

I have worked for two health plans. The one I currently work for is AMAZING with the quality of staff and the expectations of the organization. The last health plan I worked for hired workers that were fired elsewhere. It was kind-of a last ditch place, picking up all the scaps. Maybe you should change health plans.

Yes-unfortunately for you, they're in Maryland and Washington, DC.