Why doctors are dismissive of seniors

officerripley said:
I'm afraid this is what's starting to happen with me: I'm having chest pains that are so sudden & painful that they almost take my breath away. So far, a mammogram and an echocardiogram show nothing wrong with my heart nor has the cancer returned but I also had a chest MRI and am having trouble--unreturned calls, etc.--finding out the results of that. So starting with the calls again today; it's so frustrating. And the way things are around here, there's no getting rid of one doctor and getting a better one; you're lucky if you can find a medical professional of any kind who's even taking new patients. (What I get for living out in the boonies.)
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I have the same issue living in the boonies. Fortunately I have a better doctor now than my original one when I first moved here. Sometimes it takes three months to get an appointment.

I hope you get this diagnosed and cared for soon. It has to be very frustrating.
 
officerripley said:
I'm afraid this is what's starting to happen with me: I'm having chest pains that are so sudden & painful that they almost take my breath away. So far, a mammogram and an echocardiogram show nothing wrong with my heart nor has the cancer returned but I also had a chest MRI and am having trouble--unreturned calls, etc.--finding out the results of that. So starting with the calls again today; it's so frustrating. And the way things are around here, there's no getting rid of one doctor and getting a better one; you're lucky if you can find a medical professional of any kind who's even taking new patients. (What I get for living out in the boonies.)
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So sorry Officerripley. I find it hard to make a change even tho I probably should but at least I have the option.
 
I hate it when I make an appointment to see my doctor and have to wait sometimes an hour before I see him. I know they are busy, but if I make an appointment for 10.am I should see him at 10.am not 10.30 or later as in the past. One day the doctor
was 1 hour late, no apology and gets me out of his room within 15 minutes.
 
While in a small town, my doctor was really slow; an hour wait was normal. He was a great doctor who spent too much time talking to all folks. He had a lot of seniors and chatted with all of them. One friend admitted she just went because she could. Eventually the system cracked down to limited times allotted for a problem. This probably made his wife happy because he worked long hours fitting everyone in.
 
Drug sales agents occupy the time and attention of many doctor's that adds to the delay in seeing patients. My mom once told me that she was in an exam room and overheard a pharmaceutical salesman talking to her doctor and the conversation wasn't even about business - it was about fishing trips! Doctors who lollygag like this while making patients wait is almost criminal. They should have a nurse practitioner or other office staff see these people.
 
I agree with what everybody has posted. However...I am going to play Devil's Advocate here.

Do patient's listen to what their doctors recommend? Lose weight? Exercise? Stop smoking or drinking? Many do not. Many just want a pill to fix what they have done to themselves. I am guilty of this; it just seems too hard. Health care professionals will finally give up on a patient that doesn't follow their advice. And some maladies are not fixable.

Last fall, a sibling died from alcoholic liver failure. He had been told many times for years to stop drinking and was offered help to do so. He didn't. When he became so sick that he was unable to work, he decided it was time to quit. He did! Unfortunately, it was too late. A couple of months before he died, he demanded a liver transplant. He was turned down because he didn't follow their instructions beforehand in regards to liver failure diet, PT recommendations, etc.
 
I experienced far more dismissive doctors when I was younger, partly because of the rampant sexism in the 60s - 80s, and partly because of doctors' God complexes. Also dealt with long waits in waiting rooms and then in the treatment room, largely due to the pervasive, arrogant opinion that the doctor's time is valuable, the patient's is not.

Lawsuits, patients' bills of rights, and the internet have been game changers. Patients now have agency over their bodies and healthcare. Information about symptoms, possible diagnoses and treatments are at our fingertips.

Hospital doctors are another kettle of fish. My recent experience taught me that. In the future, I (or whatever family member is advocating for me) will take a far more assertive stance in a hospital setting.
 
GoodEnuff said:
Do patient's listen to what their doctors recommend? Lose weight? Exercise? Stop smoking or drinking? Many do not. Many just want a pill to fix what they have done to themselves. I am guilty of this; it just seems too hard. Health care professionals will finally give up on a patient that doesn't follow their advice. And some maladies are not fixable.
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A very good point.
 
StarSong said:
Lawsuits, patients' bills of rights, and the internet have been game changers. Patients now have agency over their bodies and healthcare. Information about symptoms, possible diagnoses and treatments are at our fingertips.
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I had to invoke this 2 years ago when the doctor refused to let me see blood test results. Why do that think a patient wouldn't want to see this? Maybe they think the patient would:
1) self-diagnose
2 )be overly concerned with an abnormal result
3) or, most likely, they think most patients are ignorant and wouldn't understand the results
 
debodun said:
I had to invoke this 2 years ago when the doctor refused to let me see blood test results. Why do that think a patient wouldn't want to see this? Maybe they think the patient would:
1) self-diagnose
2 )be overly concerned with an abnormal result
3) or, most likely, they think most patients are ignorant and wouldn't understand the results
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Or they know the patient will consult Dr. Google and convince themselves they have some rare disease or cancer or something.
 
debodun said:
I had to invoke this 2 years ago when the doctor refused to let me see blood test results. Why do that think a patient wouldn't want to see this? Maybe they think the patient would:
1) self-diagnose
2 )be overly concerned with an abnormal result
3) or, most likely, they think most patients are ignorant and wouldn't understand the results
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Probably all of the above.

There are certainly advantages to rural and small town life, but a wide range of service options isn't among them. Healthcare included.

When I come across a doctor, dentist, mechanic, gardener, you name it, I don't trust or feel simpatico with, I quickly find a different one. Your choices seem to be quite limited, and it appears you've dealt with a fair number of stinkers, sad to say.
 
MACKTEXAS said:
I go for blood work 2-3 days before my semi-annual cdoctor appointment. The lab sends results to me through the medical portal before I even see the doctor, then when I see the doctor, he reviews it with me and goes over any abnormalities.
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Same here. I'm shocked to read this isn't SOP everywhere. I can't imagine not being able to view my bloodwork results.

StarSong said:
There are certainly advantages to rural and small town life, but a wide range of service options isn't among them. Healthcare included.
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Hear, hear! A recent local report indicated that North Dakota is a health care desert (not a surprise, of course); most residents have to travel 19 or more miles to the closest health care facility.

More discouraging was a report on the states with the safest/best hospitals (https://www.aol.com/top-5-states-highest-number-220242957.html). Ten states had no hospitals at all on this list. Guess were North Dakota fell.
 
debodun said:
When my dad was in the hospital for the last time, my mom asked to see his chart. His doctor refused. Mom threatened a lawsuit. The doctor brought in the chart and flashed it for about 3 milliseconds at mom. I guess he could legally say he showed the chart.
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People may be surprised at what may be written in the charts. Years ago, I had a glimpse of mine and it referred to me as "obese". I was stunned. Yes, I was "overweight" (not any more), but that word "obese" hit me hard.

In a hospital setting, especially, everything is written in the charts. Someone's wife said her patient husband didn't drink alcohol. You can bet the denial of alcohol use was written in the chart the same day it was stated. Two days later, he went into full-blown, life-threatening DT's and the wife threatened to sue because he wasn't treated for alcohol withdrawal before it happened.

A patient's wife was considering withdrawing life support (his brain was fried from a massive stroke), had family come visit before making that final decision. A nephew stated he was "close" to the patient and that was not what the patient would have wanted. I asked him, "When did you last see or speak with your uncle?" His reply: "Oh, about 20 years ago."

This kind of stuff happens almost every day. Not exaggerating. So maybe there were comments in the chart that the doctor did not want seen? There are also times when the patient asks that certain information not be shared with anybody. IDK. Personally, I believe the complete chart should be an open book when it is legally allowed.
 
officerripley said:
I'm afraid this is what's starting to happen with me: I'm having chest pains that are so sudden & painful that they almost take my breath away. So far, a mammogram and an echocardiogram show nothing wrong with my heart nor has the cancer returned but I also had a chest MRI and am having trouble--unreturned calls, etc.--finding out the results of that. So starting with the calls again today; it's so frustrating. And the way things are around here, there's no getting rid of one doctor and getting a better one; you're lucky if you can find a medical professional of any kind who's even taking new patients. (What I get for living out in the boonies.)
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Pleurisy?
 
There are only two doctor's offices within 10 miles of me. One is the dismissive doctor and the other there's usually a line out his door. (slight exaggeration). My mom used to go to the latter one and it usually averaged around 90 minute wait time before she saw him - one time it was over 2 hours. Another time that were sick people lined up standing along the wall of the waiting room. Once, after waiting an hour, his receptionist came out and announced that he had left for the day and anyone wanting to reschedule their appointment to come to the office window. That is almost criminal. His staff were rude, too.
 
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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Yes- absolutely this ^ !!!!!
 
In my personal experience to Drs' visit was PA or Nurse Practioner, not Dr., even though I made appointments to Drs., not other assistants in the same Dr.s' office..
One was an retirement age GP and other seemed to practice to other location.
The retirement-aged GP who was in the office, but rather 'consultant' to assist under his practice. He was an excellent GP who rx'ed my HB combo which the other GPs not able to rx.

Recently, I've seen and heard more and more PAs and Nurse-practioners. That's fine to me as long as they are able to assist to my needs, mostly rx meds refill, but other new med should have seen 'actual' dr. Definitly, if new, not existing medical problem has developed, it needs to mention Dr's name along with clear explanation to the reason for, Dr., not other assistants in the same office. Probably, partly a shortage of well-trained young/younger drs. I live a big city.
 
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