Looking for a new medical professional
As I am walking out, feeling pretty
fine, my CNP stops me and says, she needs to talk to me away from the
clinic. She is leaving! WHAT THE HECK!? She is leaving the clinic,
she as the manager has been dealt enough poopoo, that she has decided
that as much as she loves this job, and the patients, it is taking
quite a toll on her physically. So at the end of April she will be
gone. OMG! She has been my "doc" for 22 years, she gave my boys their
first shots; she diagnosed my diabetes, she's walked me through all the
ups and downs and this and more. Now what?
She was running late, and according to her, everyone is watching her, so we'd talk more about this, she'd explain more later...
So, now I have to make some tough, and I mean tough decisions....
1. Do I stay with this clinic? Have the other CNP (who is also well
versed and experienced in diabetic issues) take over my care? Do I
wait to see who the new person is...even though I don't care.
(Remember we are in a very rural area where medical professionals are
hard to come by, and not all docs in the area are well versed or
educated on diabetes nor the care of people with diabetes; and not all
docs are accepting new patients)
2. Do I start calling around and find out who is accepting new
patients? And make a "get to know you appointment?" There are two
docs, that I have met and am impressed with their knowledge and
manner. One is a diabetic, one did much of his internship and
residency in a diabetic hospital in the Twin Cities. But they are both
in a clinic that is not known for treating Medicaid or Medicare
patients with respect.
3. Do I take a PA or the doc that oversees them at another clinic; and
wait until their hospital (who is doing diabetic research in a BIG
way) and schedule an appointment with them?
4. What do I ask....??????
So I am not asking about the first three questions, more the fourth
one. If you have some questions that you feel I should ask, for a type
II, on oral meds (amaryl, Januvia and metformin) losing weight, and
eating as healthy as money provides....what would you ask? I haven't
had to do this in a very (obviously) long time, so I am looking for
some help.
I'm sick, I'm sad, I'm angry, and I am again frustrated. NUTS!
fine, my CNP stops me and says, she needs to talk to me away from the
clinic. She is leaving! WHAT THE HECK!? She is leaving the clinic,
she as the manager has been dealt enough poopoo, that she has decided
that as much as she loves this job, and the patients, it is taking
quite a toll on her physically. So at the end of April she will be
gone. OMG! She has been my "doc" for 22 years, she gave my boys their
first shots; she diagnosed my diabetes, she's walked me through all the
ups and downs and this and more. Now what?
She was running late, and according to her, everyone is watching her, so we'd talk more about this, she'd explain more later...
So, now I have to make some tough, and I mean tough decisions....
1. Do I stay with this clinic? Have the other CNP (who is also well
versed and experienced in diabetic issues) take over my care? Do I
wait to see who the new person is...even though I don't care.
(Remember we are in a very rural area where medical professionals are
hard to come by, and not all docs in the area are well versed or
educated on diabetes nor the care of people with diabetes; and not all
docs are accepting new patients)
2. Do I start calling around and find out who is accepting new
patients? And make a "get to know you appointment?" There are two
docs, that I have met and am impressed with their knowledge and
manner. One is a diabetic, one did much of his internship and
residency in a diabetic hospital in the Twin Cities. But they are both
in a clinic that is not known for treating Medicaid or Medicare
patients with respect.
3. Do I take a PA or the doc that oversees them at another clinic; and
wait until their hospital (who is doing diabetic research in a BIG
way) and schedule an appointment with them?
4. What do I ask....??????
So I am not asking about the first three questions, more the fourth
one. If you have some questions that you feel I should ask, for a type
II, on oral meds (amaryl, Januvia and metformin) losing weight, and
eating as healthy as money provides....what would you ask? I haven't
had to do this in a very (obviously) long time, so I am looking for
some help.
I'm sick, I'm sad, I'm angry, and I am again frustrated. NUTS!
Replies to This Discussion
-
Permalink Reply by Geoffrey Steinman on -
just try out different practices - if you don't "click" with one doc, try another one. I know a few people that have changed doctors because they don't like what the doc tells them - there's a mountain climber (can't remember his name) that went to several doctors until he found one that would help him reach his goal of climbing the highest peak on each of the 7 continents.
-
Permalink Reply by Jeannie Wagner on -
I agree, I would ask your CNP for a recommendation. Since she is leaving she should be honest with you about who deal with diabetics the best. Good Luck.
-
Permalink Reply by kiva on -
If she's staying in the area, ask her where she's going. If you like the practice otherwise then stay.
-
Permalink Reply by Cathy Jacobson on
-
The point is she is getting out of the medical care business for now....there is no transferring to another place with her there. I guess I didn't make that clear. As for the practice, it is a place that is designed for Native American patients, and I am a "token" white woman. The care is wonderful for diabetics, since Native Americans are the largest, fastest growing population to have diabetes, at least in SD. It is the person, the time, the relationship that we have had that is a bother to me about it.
I have contacted other practices and have three choices now
1. A practice that is run by our hospital and goes by numbers, ie if you have their insurance you are seen immediately, other insurances within the week and Medicaid or Medicare as they have time to get you in. I am in the last group
2.A practice that has independent doctors, is building their own hospital and care clinic, but no one highly specialized in diabetes.
3. Stay where I am and see how things go.
I like choice number 4.
Advertisement
REsources
Groups
From the Diabetes Hands Foundation blog...
Together, We Can Get Diabetes Co-Stars to 10,000 Views!
Above is a photo of Diabetes Hands Foundation’s own Manny Hernandez with the stars of the Diabetes Co-Stars Video, “Strength in Numbers.” In case you haven’t heard the news yet, there is a new video making it’s way through the …Continue Reading
Congratulations Diabetes Advocates Scholarship Recipients!
The Diabetes Hands Foundation and Diabetes Advocates Program is proud to announce and congratulate the members of DA who were granted scholarships to attend diabetes conferences in 2013! Thanks to a generous grant from Novo Nordisk, in 2013 we were …Continue Reading
TuDiabetes Team
DHF STAFF
 Manny Hernandez(Co-Founder, Editor, has LADA)
|
DHF VOLUNTEERS
Lead Administrator
 Bradford (has type 1) |
Administrators
 Lorraine (mother of type 1) |
 Marie B (has type 1) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
LIKE us on Facebook
Spread the word
This site complies with the HONcode standard for trustworthy health information: verify here.
© 2013 A community of people touched by diabetes, run by the Diabetes Hands Foundation.
