Comments on: Open Mic Night

By: Senna Leaves « ∞ itis

Senna Leaves « ∞ itis — Mon, 24 Jan 2011 23:29:07 +0000

[...] Synonymous has a particularly relevant post up, and it brought to mind something I read in an Open Mic comment a while back, in which Whitecoat shared a recipe: Reminds me of an old recipe I used to [...]

By: Niggs

Niggs — Fri, 09 Jul 2010 13:58:21 +0000

I just remembered that homepatheic pills are sweet. They’re glorified sugar pills! I think if they work at all it’s the placebo effect.

By: Nurse K

Nurse K — Fri, 09 Jul 2010 04:20:47 +0000

Design…I actually had a really lifestyle-killing medical problem cured by a medical student (apparently by himself) after 1.5 bajillion visits to a specialist and internists. He’s all have you tried [insert name of cheap, effective drug here] in addition to your current drug? So I tried said drug, and after 9 months of suffering, my symptoms were 100% resolved. New set of eyes. Student health, baby. Feel the power.

But for my chronic medical problem that I’ve had since I was a child that requires prescription refills and monitoring labs, it’s really annoying to wait three hours at the (non student-health, but university affiliated) clinic to be seen when another doc can do the same thing in 25 minutes. If this lady’s kid needs frequent visits, she’d probably want to shoot herself between the eyes if she was being squeezed in between rounding, lectures and all that though. Really just depends on how the thing is set up.

By: design42

design42 — Fri, 09 Jul 2010 01:18:41 +0000

Being checked by a medical student is actually not a bad thing. They have lots of supervision and have the most time of any care provider to spend listening to you, understanding your concerns and chasing down your test results. As a medical student I have been told by many patients that the time I spent answering questions and listening made their hospital stay much improved over previous visits.
Additionally, medical students can advocate on your behalf to other providers. For example, I had a patient recently with terminal cancer with spinal mets and new leg pain. His spinal canal stenosis was unchanged and he had already had radiation. I looked at his scans and thought the tumor extended outside the vertebral column. I went back to radiology and requested the scan be reread looking for extra-vertebral mass. I took that to radiation oncology and verified he had not received the max dose of radiation to that area. He is now receiving palliative radiation that will significantly reduce his pain in his remaining months of life.
As medical students we carry a lower patient load than other physicians so we have more time to spend with you and advocating on your behalf. Isn’t more time something that everyone wants from their doctor?

By: Nurse K

Nurse K — Wed, 07 Jul 2010 05:31:04 +0000

The Medicaid thing is a state-by-state deal. Around here, nearly everyone accepts Medicaid.

Twice I’ve selected MDs based on teaching hospital-type stuff. Who is “known” at the university, etc. However, it seemed there is no time for me and my appointment. They’re lecturing, rounding at the hospital, tied up in some meeting, or else they’re around and I get checked by a med student and then the doctor appears an hour later. Fair warning.

Every time I used the “friend recommendation” method, the MD was not accepting new patients…probably a good sign.

I’d personally make an appointment with a pediatrician affiliated with a children’s hospital and get their recommendations. I’d select this pediatrician by calling the clinic, asking to speak to a nurse, and telling the nurse about the child’s medical problems and asking them to recommend a provider there who has an interest in that particular thing.

By: Nurse K

Nurse K — Wed, 07 Jul 2010 04:08:26 +0000

You ask a lot of questions.

Here is my favorite all-time Ace post. Funny as all get-out! You’re a nerd, so you’ll appreciate it…

http://ace.mu.nu/archives/058045.php

By: WhiteCoat

WhiteCoat — Tue, 06 Jul 2010 15:03:17 +0000

First, contact the state and/or local medical associations. See if the doctor has been disciplined.
Check for local doctor web sites.
Go to the medical staff office at the hospital in the area. Ask about the doctor. If you’re nice and explain your situation, you might even get them to tell you what doctor they’d go to if they had a problem.
Look through newspaper archives to see if a doctor has written articles.
See if the doctor is on staff at any nearby medical schools or residency programs. Teaching is always a good sign. Call the programs and see if you can get an appointment with a staff doc.
Contact the national organizations (the American Academy of Pediatrics in your friend’s case). See if they have any specialists in your area that treat your friend’s child’s medical problems.

Unfortunately, the way that things are headed in this system, if your friend’s child has Medicaid, it is going to be difficult for them to find a provider outside of a county hospital system or residency program.

By: Lisa K.

Lisa K. — Tue, 06 Jul 2010 13:51:20 +0000

Does anyone have any advice on how to find a good doctor who is still accepting new patients? I have a friend who has moved to a new state and has a child with serious medical problems. I’d like to be able to do some background research for her on the doctors in the area and give her some leads to follow up in person. However, the patient doctor rating sites seem to be more a measure of bedside manner than clinical competence. Often it seems to come down to looking at the list of in-network providers and picking the one with the friendliest name. There has got to be a better way! Help?

By: Mama On A Budget

Mama On A Budget — Tue, 06 Jul 2010 06:15:26 +0000

What is a concierge practice, please?

(Off to google)

By: jillian

jillian — Tue, 06 Jul 2010 01:29:53 +0000

My husband’s constipation would not have been impressed. It was pretty special, though.

I just wish all docs would have a policy of recommending a bowel regimen whenever they prescribe opiates, and asking about bowel health at any follow-ups. Especially for patients taking high doses.