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Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
bob@dr-bob.orgShown: posts 1 to 9 of 9. This is the beginning of the thread.
Posted by thinkingitover on November 6, 2008, at 21:14:16
Ok, I'm moving to a new town, and will be PDOC shopping. I;ve been under the care of my current PDOC for about 4 years now. He's nice but overall, I've not been happy with his care, and I'm sure his office is sick of hearing from me (he works for an HMO).
My biggest complaints have been a general apathy, and the "11 refill syndrome".. as in, come in every 6 months just to get your valium attitude. I guess it's HMO protocol to shoot them through the door.
Furthermore, when I went in there, I was 146lbs, now I'm 205lbs, and I've whined about this alot, but it seems to be of little concern to him. Are we trying to kill off patients with obesity.. replace one problem with another? Finally, when I try new meds, he half hazardly switches me via "cross tapering"... I'd be willing to wage a bet that about 75 percent of the meds that we tried and failed would have worked if he had just taken it easy with me.
So, with all my whining, I'm not sure what to look for in a new doctor. How do I ask the right questions? How do I act as my own advocate? Am I being too picky?
Posted by JadeKelly on November 7, 2008, at 0:48:12
In reply to moving to a new town- what to ask?, posted by thinkingitover on November 6, 2008, at 21:14:16
Hi thinking it over,
> So, with all my whining, I'm not sure what to look for in a new doctor. How do I ask the right questions? How do I act as my own advocate? Am I being too picky?Gosh no.
Your "whining" sounds right on track to me. Most I've met are apathetic. I see mine as a presciption pad and someone who probably knows a lot about contraindication. He doesn't look at my chart til I come in, wants to give meds we've already tried, etc, etc. I do the research, tell him what I want, he writes it up, and off I go. I don't trust his judgment anymore. Its a joke. But thats me!
So, I'll be looking too, after 15 years!
What I'm going to do is hit the book store and find out exactly what we SHOULD be expecting, what questions to ask, what may be a bad sign, those things. I believe there are reputable sites on line that rate Hospitals, and probably Doctors in various fields. If you have a top notch hospital in your new area, that may be a way to go. Sometimes they have sattelite locations that are offices, easier to get to, etc.
I'm going to pay close attention to specialty, also. If you want a good therapist, maybe find him/her first, then get a recommendation.
Finally, and this may sound a little lame, the larger city magazines will have listings as peer ratings. How reliable these are, I don't know. If you run across a name several times across the board as excellent, no-brainer.
I don't know about you, but I'm not settling this time. Just MHO of course. I'm sure there are plenty of fine, effective, psychiatrists out there. I just haven't met one. OK, I'M done whining.
Good luck, it probably seems daunting but think how much better you'll feel with someone who cares. And pays attention.
Jade
Posted by Phillipa on November 7, 2008, at 0:54:57
In reply to Re: moving to a new town- what to ask? » thinkingitover, posted by JadeKelly on November 7, 2008, at 0:48:12
Goggle location and see what pops up and then ask people in the new town you'll be amazed at the number of people who see pdocs. Most will talk about it that's my experience of course and maybe big universities? At least for a referral. And good luck as still haven't found one after four years. Love Phillipa
Posted by B2chica on November 7, 2008, at 12:23:00
In reply to Re: moving to a new town- what to ask? » thinkingitover, posted by JadeKelly on November 7, 2008, at 0:48:12
LOL i like your thinking about the Rx pad.
i agree totally. my pdoc is JUST like that.
never remembers what i'm on, never suggests anything. i do all the research and tell him what i'd like to try and he writes it out. does let me know about dosage info...but i'm beginning to even wonder about that.
especially when he had me taking 160 of geodon all at night and most people say they take it twice a day..??ah well. makes me miss my old pdoc that much more.
b2c.
Posted by ricker on November 7, 2008, at 14:02:56
In reply to moving to a new town- what to ask?, posted by thinkingitover on November 6, 2008, at 21:14:16
I've been seeing my p/doc for 13 years. He is around my age, 49. My appointments are usually 45 - 60 minutes, depending on my needs. Sometimes we will make quick work of my "medical needs", and spend the next 1/2 hour or so talking about sports, movies, whatever. He's nothing short of the "dream" p/doc. Don't get me wrong, clinically, he's right on. I can question a previous med trial from years back and he can pretty much answer before my chart is opened. I have 100% trust in his abilities and I believe he values my input as well...very important!
I did not hand pick him, or even scour the yellow pages, it was a matter of fate, so to speak. I have no idea how one would go out and find a p/doc that fit their bill. I'm sure there's alot of them out there.... sometimes trial and error, just like our meds I guess?Good luck with your move and p/doc search.
Best. Rick
Posted by Phillipa on November 7, 2008, at 20:30:33
In reply to Re: moving to a new town- what to ask?, posted by ricker on November 7, 2008, at 14:02:56
Ricker you really got a great pdoc a winner!!!! Love Phillipa
Posted by elanor roosevelt on November 8, 2008, at 1:30:29
In reply to Re: moving to a new town- what to ask? » thinkingitover, posted by JadeKelly on November 7, 2008, at 0:48:12
perhaps a teaching hospital that has intern pdocs
sometimes they are more current and they have to report in to the full fledged guys periodicallyNYU hosp has a place like that here for kids
Posted by bleauberry on November 9, 2008, at 18:56:01
In reply to moving to a new town- what to ask?, posted by thinkingitover on November 6, 2008, at 21:14:16
Some things to try. Actually, I have done all of these. It is a lot of work. But it works. It is kind of like telephone sales...lots of time, lots of deadends, but the ocassional magic hit. You never see the flowers until you've pulled all the weeds.
Write down on paper what you want in a doctor. Spell it out concisely but in as few words as possible. Make a list of these things. Then, call doctors at random. Talk with either the doc's secretary or the doc or both. Go down your list and tell them you are new in town and this is what you want in a doctor. Then ask them, "could I expect that kind of treatment from you?" Their answer will say a lot. Their tone of voice will say a lot. Any hesitation will say a lot. Any making excuses or lectures of the way things are will say a lot. Anything you sense or hear that you don't like, move on to the next phone number. What you are looking for in this phone call is "chemistry". You know, when two people just somehow go together.
Some things to ask:
**If I need to see you on short notice, are you too busy to get me in? (if yes, stay away, you want some accessible, someone not so busy they can't care about you)
**Do you have patients on MAOIs? (if no, this is a lightweight pdoc)
**If I had treatment resistant depression, do you have a good track record with that or would you prefer to refer me to someone else?
**If you did refer me to someone else, what is that person's name? Why them? (this is where I found the best pdoc I ever had)
**Why did you choose psychiatry? (oh yeah, this one will open some doors into the person you are talking with, takes them offguard, and their answer will speak volumes either good or bad)
**How long is the initial consultation and what will we do at that appointment?
**Can I see you twice a month if I want? (not that you want, or maybe you do, you are just trying to see how this answer fits or doesn't fit with answers to other questions you asked earlier)
**Who in your opinion is the best pdoc in the area? Ok, how about just a few of those names?Add whatever criteria or questions are important to you. Delete any of the above if you don't think they are helpful to you.
I think right from the get-go some doctors are going to like you, respect you, and care for you a more than the next patient simply because you took the time to ask meaningful questions like these; or some doctors will feel offended or ego-stricken or defensive or bothered or too busy or something...that's ok...those are the ones you don't want.
You can find the one you want by weeding out the ones you don't want.
Posted by psyclist on November 10, 2008, at 7:14:09
In reply to moving to a new town- what to ask?, posted by thinkingitover on November 6, 2008, at 21:14:16
You need to see a number of them and then take your pick. Size each of them up. Ask them what their attitudes are to your concerns. You'll be lucky to find one who ticks all the boxes but you might get close. Otherwise you can just go by reputations. See what other people have to say about them. Ask each candidate pdoc how he/she would go about treating you.
This is the end of the thread.
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