Tired of all the Specialists!

Pappy said:
It’s quite the racket. It’s like, I’ll send my patients your way, and you refer some to me. I have gotten to the point where I’m almost afraid to say anything because I know they will send me to their ‘specialist.’
These big heath companies, that house all their doctors in one building, are the worst.
Click to expand...
Same here Pappy, I'm to the same point! It does seem like a racket @Pappy
 

Patio Life said:
I'm very fortunate to have a good GP. He is a geriatric specialist.
He's never in a hurry, reads the charts. He knows his stuff and is one of the top 10 Drs in a very large city.

When I went to see him after my heart attack he explained things the Cardio Dr. hadn't. He prescribed something for my ucky tummy and changed my inhaler to one that does not shock the system/heart. He said I didn't need to see a Pulmonologist. The Cardio Dr wants me to see a list of specialists, my GP said no need. All of the info from other Drs or tests will go to my GP and he will co-ordinate my care.
Click to expand...
That's great you are getting such good care.
 

There is a reason why they refer you to "specialists." Money. Every time you see another doctor, there is another bill to your insurer.
 
I understand. I am having a similar problem with PT. I went straight to the orthopedic doctor recently because the weakness and pain in my knees, legs and back was really getting me down. I figured I would avoid seeing my GP,his copay, and having him pick away at me trying to find other ways to keep me running. The doctor I went to ordered PT. All went well but they seemed to be focused on my leg problem and not fixing my back problem. They also had me do the exercises they showed me how to do in the first 2 weeks every time I was there. I am perfectly capable of doing them at home. They told me the doctor has to be seen to write another scrip for another body part,as they put it. That means another copay and another PT evaluation. I think I would do just as well finding these exercises on you tube and they have no copay.
 
Money. Docs often get paid for referrals and they get get thank you referrals from other docs with whom they have played the referral game. In the large clinic my doc works for referrals are usually made to specialists within the same clinic and who knows what sort of money games the administrators play.

I generally like to go to physician assistants, especially if they are former Navy corpsmen. They seem to like to solve problems and are more like the old General practitioners of my younger days.
 
Last edited:
Ruth n Jersey said:
I understand. I am having a similar problem with PT. I went straight to the orthopedic doctor recently because the weakness and pain in my knees, legs and back was really getting me down. I figured I would avoid seeing my GP,his copay, and having him pick away at me trying to find other ways to keep me running. The doctor I went to ordered PT. All went well but they seemed to be focused on my leg problem and not fixing my back problem. They also had me do the exercises they showed me how to do in the first 2 weeks every time I was there. I am perfectly capable of doing them at home. They told me the doctor has to be seen to write another scrip for another body part,as they put it. That means another copay and another PT evaluation. I think I would do just as well finding these exercises on you tube and they have no copay.
Click to expand...
I hear ya! I hope you can find relief for that pain. I went to PT too this year and hope to get an injection from an ortho soon.
 
I do the opposite. I avoid GP’s and book direct with specialists. I called on specialists for 22 years and GP’s. Believe me, they are a big cut above GP’s. Intense knowledge and experience.

These guys may not have the best bedside manner because while you and I were having fun and developing social skills, they were buried in medical books and intense specialty training for years and years. In all my years calling on physicians, I have only found a handful of GP’s that I would go to.
 
Floridatennisplayer said:
I do the opposite. I avoid GP’s and book direct with specialists. I called on specialists for 22 years and GP’s. Believe me, they are a big cut above GP’s. Intense knowledge and experience.

These guys may not have the best bedside manner because while you and I were having fun and developing social skills, they were buried in medical books and intense specialty training for years and years. In all my years calling on physicians, I have only found a handful of GP’s that I would go to.
Click to expand...
I book direct with specialists, too, at times. I do have to see my GP though for some things not covered by the specialists. Sometimes insurance, though, requires that you get a referral from the GP.
 
I'm my doctor and specialist. I don't have any issues, thank goodness and see my Integrative MD once a year and the rest of the year I take supplements for issues I research. At 81 this works for me. I don't trust doctors as far as I can throw them so proceed with a LOT of caution. OA is my big issue and they can't do anymore than I'm doing and don't want their drugs so......

Been doing my own work for over 25 yrs with books on all health issues and now it's the net and Dr. Google...he/she knows so much.
 

You must log in or register to reply here.

Back
Top