Monday, October 25, 2010
Oh, an aching joint. Will it get better on its own? What is wrong with it? Do I need to see a doctor? All of these questions may cross your mind when a joint is ailing you. As access to healthcare is getting more and more difficult, deciding when to see a doctor can be an arduous decision. However,...
Hi, Dr. L. I have to brag on my GP re: this subject. Actually, I see a Nurse Practioner, and she is very smart and very caring. She ran blood tests for me, found a very low Vit D level, and some inflammation. She referred me to a rheumatologist, but while I was waiting to see the rheumy, she prescribed Vit D, Plaquenil and pain meds...and a short course of prednisone. That all helped immensely, and was approved by the rheumy, once I saw him. I live in a rural area, so there aren't as many GPs as there are in more populated areas. Frankly, my nurse practioner is better an most GP's I have ever seen around here. She limits her practice to seeing 20 patients a day. A lot of GP's see 60 patients a day. I know they are pressured to do that. They just don't have the time they need to treat each patient like they used to. My nurse practitioner works closely w/my rheumy. She monitors my Vit D and does routine blood tests and sends the results to him so that he has the results when I see him every three months. She has been a real blessing. I'm so happy I found her. I guess I should let her know that! Thanks for the article. V
Thank goodness for primary care providers, especially the good ones like yours. A good primary care provider can be a lot better than a bad specialist. So, it is important to be able to find a quality professional whether one is looking for a physical therapist, a "rheumy", a GP, or any professional health care provider.
Some proposed rules for finding a quality health care provider:
1) Someone who listens
2) Someone who examines the problem thoroughly
3) Someone who explains and helps one understand the issues
All of that does take time, so avoiding the "in and out" 60 patients per day, 5 minute appointment clinics is a good thing. Quality is getting more and more difficult to find these days. Count your blessings V.
Dr. Christina Lasich, MD