Replies to This Discussion

Permalink Reply by christy on December 16, 2012 at 12:55pm

And those numbers are ONLY going up,with new patients NOW coming into the health care system and we do not have an influx of new Dr's coming into the system. Most Dr's today want to specialize and are not going into practice as GP's. I'm not saying our health care system in the US doesn't need some work and fixing, BUT I don't think ObamaCare took into account what this all means, and our health care is not in my opinion going to improve. It will be even MORE justification from the doctors for WHY these test need to be ran, WHY that MRI needs to be ordered, WHY this patients labs looks like they do and on and on and on. We as patients are becoming nothing but numbers.

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Permalink Reply by Clare on December 16, 2012 at 1:00pm

That is why I pay an additional $3000 per year to have a "boutique practice" GP. Just so I can call and get more than 15 minutes of her time any time. So I have her email address, cell phone number and can call and speak directly to her. I am far more than a number at her office or maybe I am a number, but I am number 200 NOT number 2300.

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Permalink Reply by Mayumi on December 16, 2012 at 1:06pm

I envy you as I don't think the doctors in my area have even heard of a "boutique practice".

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Permalink Reply by christy on December 16, 2012 at 1:22pm

WE are getting a lot of those practices here too in VA. They often don't see a HUGE number of patients, BUT they do provide very quality care and patient centered care.

Permalink Reply by Clare on December 16, 2012 at 1:23pm

It sounds like a dream, but Concierge Medicine, which allows patients to pay for special access to their doctors is becoming more and more common in my area. My primary care doctor filled out the paperwork for my CGM and had me use her office for training with the Dexcom rep and sat in on the training session. She is the smartest person I know, next to my husband who has a double PhD and although I do pay for it, she does take extremely good care of me. I am only sorry that not everyone can get the same kind of care from their physicians.

Permalink Reply by Alisonisayoshi on December 16, 2012 at 1:35pm

My endo books hour long initials and 30 minute follow ups. Nothing less ever. I pay no more fore this service. He has also abandoned the term "non compliant". He is of the mind that diabetics that aren't caring properly for themselves have barriers to care be they mental health issues, physical, or monetary issues its his job to figure out why the so called "non compliance" is happening. Nobody chooses to have horrific complications. They need better more comprehensive care if they cannot follow their management plan. I think if more doctore (endo or gp) adopted these philosophies diabetics as a whole would be far healthier and better cared for! Just saying...

Permalink Reply by Natalie ._c- on December 18, 2012 at 12:18pm

Boutique practice is nice if you can afford it! :-(

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Permalink Reply by Zoe on December 18, 2012 at 1:09pm

I agree 100%, Alison. Your endo sounds like he is a smart (and caring) man. To simply label someone "non-compliant" and then to either reduce expectations, show scorn or at worst "fire them" is neither professional nor humane. I've worked with probably thousands of people who appeared not to give a damn about their own lives. Actually I was one of them when I was younger. I can guarantee you from both the personal and professional view that it was never from simple apathy. The important question is why they are "non-compliant" and more important, "how can I help them become motivated, educated and empowered."

Permalink Reply by beechbeard on December 17, 2012 at 7:20am

There are only about 2000 new Endos graduating every year. They are NOT a highly compensated specialty. We have some problems coming that will not be solved quickly. A GP has to learn to handle 200-300 different conditions. Unreasonable to expect them to be at their peak on every one.

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Permalink Reply by christy on December 16, 2012 at 12:30pm

That is awesome about the A1c. And yes I know as diabetics we are at higher risks from other things...but having a good tightly controlled A1c also helps those risks too. How's your BP, do you have problems with high blood pressure? I think too many times, and I don't see this improving as the feds get more and more in control of our health care. But its only the big picture that is looked at. Not ok well cholesterol is kind of high, BUT A1c is good, BP is good, family history is minimal...they are exercising, watching what they eat, blah blah blah. We are so much MORE than just numbers on a lab slip. I come from a family history of grandparents on both sides with high blood pressure, heart disease, cholesterol issues...I'm not affected. I'm the ONLY type 1 in my family. Go figure, lol but all Im saying is health care needs to be looked at on so many different levels. There is not just ONE treatment plan that fits us all. If there was lol god knows this mess would be a LOT easier to treat and control. Good luck, and if its important to you, not to be on the statins due to how they make you feel, then discuss this openly with your dr and be like WHAT can I do to improve this without the medications because of the side effects they cause...WANTING to do something to me goes a long way in showing your not just being non-compliant.

I was lucky, my GP kinda flipped when she saw I was not on any Ace inhibitor or statins or baby aspirin. Im like WHY I dont have high BP, I don't have bad cholesterol levels, my urine studies are ALL normal. Im not really wanting to take something JUST BECAUSE...she asked me if she minded her discussing it with my endo and getting his intake on it, I'm like sure go ahead as I had already had this discussion with my endo. My endo at this time doesn't feel Im at significant risk, and if that changes then maybe we will re-evaluate our treatment plans but Im not taking statin drugs with potentially SERIOUS side effects JUST BECAUSE.

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Permalink Reply by Mayumi on December 16, 2012 at 12:38pm

I have had that conversation with my GP and she doesn't believe anyone could have so much trouble with all of the statins. Her statement - "there must be ONE that you could take". Sadly, my BP is also lousy and I'm currently taking 4 BP meds. GP is gradually increasing the dose of one of the BP meds as I react badly to some of them also. I just feel like a freak and why should any doctor want me as a patient? :(

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Permalink Reply by christy on December 16, 2012 at 1:31pm

I see Concierge Medicine being a new trend. And its either going to go to the ObamaCare providers and take a number and wait in VERY long lines and not so great of quality of care for a multitude of reason, or its going to go to Dr's practicing Concierge Medicine. Like I said I strongly believe our health care system needs some overhauling but Obamacare is a nightmare in the making for health care. Its not going to improve anything, people will either PAY for the Concierge services OR people will be stuck with overworked, underpaid physicians who have a multitude of panels and people to answer to to how they are practicing, with more patients coming on board and not enough Dr's to handle it. You think 15 minutes is a joke, try 5 min appointments.

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