Replies to This Discussion

Permalink Reply by christy on December 16, 2012 at 2:11pm

All I know is what I hear working in the industry and trends I see occurring to each their own. Hope for those who are depending on Obamacare its everything you are hoping it to be. I personally don't see it.

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Permalink Reply by smileandnod on December 18, 2012 at 9:19am

I've always been the type of person who strongly dislikes generalizations of any type because I feel they are unfair and I feel that you're generalizing and making many assumptions here.

Maybe I'm just lucky, but my endo spends as long with me as it takes. Period. I've had a rough go of it over the past couple of years and my appointments take a while because there are lots of questions and discussion going both ways. Without his patience and encouragement, I may have given up along the way.

And the same goes for the rest of my medical team. If I have a problem, I can call and my docs will return the call the same day themselves. My endo does not allow his nurses to give out test results because he wants to be able to answer any questions...because he actually cares about his patients.

Believe it or not, there are good doctors out there who care. And Obamacare hasn't changed that. You may not like Obamacare for your own personal reasons, but something had to change with our medical system. I'm not saying Obamacare fixed everything, but there's one thing for certain - the status quo didn't work either.

Permalink Reply by palomino on December 18, 2012 at 8:42pm

Smileandnod: The endo I had an appointment with one time was great. But his PA was lacking. Ever since then, I have a difficult time dealing with PA's (and I do realize not all of them are difficult people).

I've had FAR more luck continuing to go to the University Hospital, to a family physician there who specializes in diabetes and has been involved with it for over 30 years. He treats me like a human being, and his CDE is amazing.

They have essentially given me the reins to do as I feel that I need to; they allowed me to decide how often I want to go for testing/followups. Which, honestly, should probably be every 3 months as I am finding I have less incentive to do well with this disease when I am without a guideline or date in the future to own up to!

But either way, I love them. It means so much more when someone is willing to take the time with you and help you; and when they treat you like a person!

With that being said, I tried not to burn any bridges by 'firing' my endo. I just didn't go back...

I suppose I wrote this to you in particular, because I agree that there are good docs out there that do things that are more 'people' oriented and I definitely appreciate that.

Permalink Reply by acidrock23 on December 16, 2012 at 1:56pm

I wouldn't pay $3K extra for "concierge care" or "boutique care" or any other kind of care. My parents' GP went to that a few years ago and they switched and I'd do the same thing. I've been running my own show for most of the time I've had diabetes and, to me, the $3000 would be better spend on just about anything else. If I have questions about running diabetes, I'd probably ask here and see what ideas people had before I'd ask a doctor.

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Permalink Reply by Clare on December 16, 2012 at 2:07pm

To each his own AR, and I am glad you are confident enough in how you manage things to do it on your own or even to ask questions here. How you spend your extra money is entirely up to you. I just choose to spend it differently than you.

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Permalink Reply by Spock on December 17, 2012 at 12:25pm

I admit, I did go to concierge care about three years ago. I pay $1500, which is tax deductable, by the way. My PC of 20 years went that route. Hate to say this, but he is my rock and I could not let go.

I had some episodes of very frightening tongue and throat swelling couple of years ago. I just showed up at his door at 7:30 am and he helped me, several times. My endo called me back three days after my call about the effects of steroids on my blood glucose level. My PC's partner stayed quite late one day to help also. Then I was moved to "specialists" who wanted me to use non-FDA sanctioned drugs (not covered by insurance); an ENT doc who thought he was an was an allergist (WRONG! He wanted to put a Type 1 on an "Eat broccoli only for one day and see what happens diet.) I would have been basal testing for a year!!! So disappointed in their care, I asked to never be referred again.

My husband moved to a new regular practice and has been happy--he has no major health problems. But as a Type one for 50 years, the extra care has made a huge difference.

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Permalink Reply by Alisonisayoshi on December 16, 2012 at 2:03pm

Funny my friends in the UK and Canada don't wait in long lines and unlike me they have never rationed test strips because they couldn't afford them. Maybe affordable care isn't a great issue to debate here k?

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Permalink Reply by Clare on December 16, 2012 at 2:12pm

Yes the unfortunate thing in the UK and in Canada is the people who wait 10 years for a hip replacement because their arthritis is just not severe enough to warrant it. But your friends in the UK and Canada do wait an inordinate amount of time for a routine appointment and usually do not see a doctor they see a DSN or nurse practicioner. And while they don't ration strips they also cannot get a Dexcom CGM and sensors for it just because they have D. You're right though affordable care isn't a great issue to discuss here, but that is not what this discussion is.

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Permalink Reply by christy on December 16, 2012 at 2:14pm

I'm sorry I dont see why we SHOULDN'T debate it, its a concern for all of us. Funny I hear stories all the time from people in countries with standardized health care who wait MONTHS for MRI's when I can have one tomorrow here. Our health care isn't perfect, but no one's is. And standardized health care is NOT free, Everything comes at a cost. The cost people in Europe pay in taxes for their standardized health care is pretty high.

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Permalink Reply by Clare on December 16, 2012 at 2:17pm

I agree completely with you. But if we are going to discuss the NHS and whether that system could work in the US, then we need to start a new discussion, not just hang it on to the end of a discussion about getting kicked out of a doctor's practice for non compliance. Then at least others would offer their opinions and experience.

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Permalink Reply by beechbeard on December 17, 2012 at 7:25am

I don't think this has been a debate about the merits of Obamacare but more in the tradition of TuDiabetes, sharing information & developing options.

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Permalink Reply by acidrock23 on December 16, 2012 at 2:25pm

One more question (at least) about the doctor issue, how often do you call the doc on his cell phone for the $3K? Besides diabetes, I had one weird health problem in the last 20 years (odd heartbeat, paramedics were alarmed so I had tests that showed I was fine and the endo admitted that maybe I was just jacked up on the insulin that had involved the paramedics in the first place, at which point I abandoned further tests...) and maybe 1/2 a dozen injuries, sprained ankles, face plant off of a bike, etc., most of which I went to the ER or convenient care for. I am intrigued by the idea of more deluxe medical care but I am having a hard time figuring out what I'd do with it, unless they found something. All the docs and lab people running the tests, etc. during the weird heart thing were great but I dunno how often I'd want to see them.

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