Why doctors are dismissive of seniors

outlander said:
My favorite thing to say to a doctor? You're fired!

If a doctor does not listen to you, is ready to write a prescription after only 5 minutes, is not willing to discuss all possible options, or hides blood and lab test results, then I suggest you immediately use the above phrase;)
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I'd be cautious about flouncing out or similar ugly ending with a doctor. In the moment, it might feel vindicating to vent, but bear in mind that doctors control a portion of the medical records that will follow you for the rest of your life.

Being tagged as difficult or phobic by a doctor will not set you up favorably with the next medical group you approach.

Better to just say the commute to their office is no longer convenient and leave it at that. After you transfer to a new doctor (and your records are transferred), you can send a letter with specifics about what bothered you, but even then keep it professional and accurate.

No sense spitting into the wind.
 
debodun said:
from an AI search

It is incredibly frustrating to feel dismissed by a doctor, especially when you are experiencing issues that affect your quality of life. The phrase "things aren't going to work like they once did" is a common example of ageism in healthcare or medical gaslighting.
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It might sound funny, but doctors are people too, as such they come with all the usual faults that all people have. If a doctor is not fulfilling your needs, just move on, and find a different doctor. Be sure and study up on a prospective doctor's resume, and patient feedback, which is abundantly easy nowadays. Living in a rural / remote area might make selection from available doctors difficult, but remember- doctors are people, and as such they talk to their peers, so being reactive and rude will only make your doctor selection more difficult.
 
Most of my doctors have patient portals on their websites. Sometimes I post a question and days go by and there's no response. I end up calling and ask why nobody responded. The usual reply is that they don't check their PP very often. My question is, "Why have a PP if you don't use it?" One doctor has already discontinued it on her web page.

On my last visit to my regular ophthalmologist, they kept asking me how old my current glasses were and if I wanted to get a refraction test. I must have been asked at least 3 times. They charge an extra $45 for this which my insurance doesn't cover. I've been this route before. They give me a prescription to take to an optician. Usually this results in the optician retesting because he want his own data.
Redundant practice.
 
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StarSong said:
I'd be cautious about flouncing out or similar ugly ending with a doctor. In the moment, it might feel vindicating to vent, but bear in mind that doctors control a portion of the medical records that will follow you for the rest of your life.

Being tagged as difficult or phobic by a doctor will not set you up favorably with the next medical group you approach.

Better to just say the commute to their office is no longer convenient and leave it at that. After you transfer to a new doctor (and your records are transferred), you can send a letter with specifics about what bothered you, but even then keep it professional and accurate.

No sense spitting into the wind.
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I get what you're saying. Although it's been years since I've changed doctors, there were times in the past when I did, and I never bothered telling the current doctor I was changing. I just found a new doctor and started going there. If the new doctor wanted my medical records, his office could get them.
 
@StarSong

When a doctor acts like I described, he is not being professional, helpful, respectful or honoring his oath.

Trust me, these types of so-called professionals won't give a rat's ass if you go elsewhere.

As far as medical records, your new doctor can request them and even if you old doctor is being vindictive they have to comply.
 
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outlander said:
@StarSong

When a doctor acts like I described, he is not being professional, helpful, respectful or honoring his oath.

Trust me, these types of so-called professionals won't give a rat's ass if you go elsewhere.

As far as medical records, your new doctor can request them and even if you old doctor is vindictive they have to comply.
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Of course they must comply. And they will, but they may shade their observations in a way that's unflattering to a patient who left on unpleasant terms.

Personally, I would choose not to up the ante, but you gotta do you. 🤷‍♀️
 
As seniors, we need to educate ourselves about our illnesses, be proactive about our own health and advocate for ourselves. We need to ask questions and even challenge doctors' opinions about courses of treatment. If the senior is unable to do it, hopefully a family member or close friend can. Any doctor who doesn't take time to explain (as often as necessary) diseases and treatment options, doesn't deserve to treat that senior patient. For some it may be hard to do, but finding another doctor would be in order.

I am so blessed to have a wonderful team of doctors, most of whom are under the same healthcare company, so they all have computer access to my visits with each of them as well as my labs and other health records. I literally love my PCP who has spent up to an hour with me. Granted at least 5 minutes of that time is personal stuff about our families and music. We have each other's cells and when I need a new prescription (for meds I'm already on), I text him instead of calling the office.

I texted him when I got Covid; he got right back to me and we had a tele-visit that day. I've not only negotiated a different medication than what was suggested with him, but also with my endocrinologist and glaucoma specialist (who is not part of their group). My doctors and I have worked together to find what is best for me.
 
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OneEyedDiva said:
As seniors, we need to educate ourselves about our illnesses, be proactive about our own health and advocate for ourselves. We need to ask questions and even challenge doctors' opinions about courses of treatment.
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This ^^^!

Just a suggestion that has worked quite well for me... When you have a test or procedure done (CT/X-ray/surgery), at the appointment when you discuss results, ask the doctor/np/pa for a copy of the results. They have always printed it out on the spot and handed it to me without a fee. Keep it in a file for future reference.

About eight years ago, I had a surgery done, four days in hospital, and felt so good afterwards that I was nagging the surgeon to let me go home. He very strongly said to me, "You have had a serious surgery!" I stayed another day but asked him for a copy of his surgical report. Not the entire chart, just the surgical report. It was given to me upon discharge. I was shocked to read the difficulty the surgeon had had. It gave me a newfound respect for him. It had seemed so simple until I read that report. Had I waited until afterwards, I would have had to ask the hospital medical records department and it would have taken weeks to get it, plus fees.

Same thing with a CT vascular scan. Asked for and received a copy of the scan results from the referring physician. When I read it, there were things I didn't really understand. I made an appointment with the vascular doctor for a "consultation only". Highlighted certain areas with notes about my questions and during the appointment, we reviewed it in great detail. We did not discuss treatment, just the test results. Again, it was an eye opener! That was one of the best things I have ever done with health care.

Asking for just the test results is not the same as asking for the entire chart. Test results are just the facts; asking for an entire chart sounds like a fishing expedition for a law suit.
 
GoodEnuff said:
This ^^^!

Just a suggestion that has worked quite well for me... When you have a test or procedure done (CT/X-ray/surgery), at the appointment when you discuss results, ask the doctor/np/pa for a copy of the results. They have always printed it out on the spot and handed it to me without a fee. Keep it in a file for future reference.

About eight years ago, I had a surgery done, four days in hospital, and felt so good afterwards that I was nagging the surgeon to let me go home. He very strongly said to me, "You have had a serious surgery!" I stayed another day but asked him for a copy of his surgical report. Not the entire chart, just the surgical report. It was given to me upon discharge. I was shocked to read the difficulty the surgeon had had. It gave me a newfound respect for him. It had seemed so simple until I read that report. Had I waited until afterwards, I would have had to ask the hospital medical records department and it would have taken weeks to get it, plus fees.

Same thing with a CT vascular scan. Asked for and received a copy of the scan results from the referring physician. When I read it, there were things I didn't really understand. I made an appointment with the vascular doctor for a "consultation only". Highlighted certain areas with notes about my questions and during the appointment, we reviewed it in great detail. We did not discuss treatment, just the test results. Again, it was an eye opener! That was one of the best things I have ever done with health care.

Asking for just the test results is not the same as asking for the entire chart. Test results are just the facts; asking for an entire chart sounds like a fishing expedition for a law suit.
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My test results plus the specialist's report and summary are posted to my online portal at the same time they're dispatched to my GP.

I'm so grateful for modern demystification of medical care for the patients. Between patients' rights laws that include full disclosure of test results and medical charts and the internet, we can indeed be educated, proactive and well-informed advocates of our physical care.

Gone are the days when I'd see a GP and ask what my blood pressure was. An idle question, really, because I didn't quite know what it meant, but was nevertheless curious.

The response was invariably a something on this theme: "You let me worry about that, ok, Darlin'? You just focus on settling down with a nice fella and leaving the single life behind."

I sh!t you not.

I'm surprised I didn't get a pat on the head and offered a lollipop as I walked out the door.
 
There is no coordination between doctors. When something dropped on my foot and cracked three toes I went to urgent care where the x-ray showed nothing. They wrapped my swollen foot and calf and told me to make an appointment with foot and ankle. The x-ray at foot and ankle saw the problem and they wrapped my foot. They don't go any higher than ankle. Each stay in their lane.
 
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