Firing a doctor

[ann jusko]

Has anyone here actually fired a doctor? I have just done it and will meet with the new doctor today. Actually, I did happen to know the vascular surgeon my internist mentioned. It was the first one he mentioned and it took me a minute to register that the first name he said, I knew and liked him very much because of his caring treatment of my friend's husband. He was in practice with the one I just fired, but left after a year. I'm pretty sure I know why.

[planosteve]

How did you fire him?

[millergrovesue]

I've quit seeing certain doctors and asked for records transfer but have never flat out told a doc I was leaving and why. I figure most of them don't care as long as there is another patient (with equally good insurance coverage) to take my place.

The only medical professionals I've thought actually cared about me as an individual, for many years, were PAs, and nurse practitioners. I have a great NP for hormonal issues. She's smart, efficient, personable, and truly cares about her patients.

7 months ago I started seeing a GP concierge doc. He actually seems to care about me as a person and spends time with me. Saw him last week and we visited for probably 45 minutes. Additionally he calls back within 20 minutes and will give advice over the phone.

[BillB]

I guess I've fired lots of them.
I just quit going to one I don't like and find another one to go to.
The new doctor will retrieve my medical records from the other one.
Usually, you can't switch doctors within the same medical group. I've ran into that a few times.

[ralph]

yeah , just quit going to him , I've done it in the past , don't really know how that works under obamacare .

[BigTex]

My wife and I used the same dentist until she got crosswise with the office staff and found another dentist. Makes it a little uncomfortable for me when I go in and they inquire why they haven't seen my wife in awhile.

[ann jusko]

No, I told him. He's cost me too much money and it's not because he's very meticulous. First with the aneurism. He scheduled surgery only after his sonographer asked me why I looked so tired. I was tired because my abdomen throbbed all night. She shot out of that room and got him in there. So, he said we need to schedule surgery. He didn't do the "gold standard" CT and abdominal scan, just went by the ultrasound. Well, I awoke from what I thought was surgery but actually, the aneurism was so big it blocked the iliac artery on the right side. I thought my husband was kidding when he said "I'm so sorry. You'll have to go through this again." I was still dopey from the anesthesia but when I saw the stick figure on the black board, I did believe. My part of that aborted surgery was 20% minus what the supplemental paid (not much). So then he does the CT scan and I had to have an open (not endoscopic) surgery. He KNEW about the perforated colon, the infections, and the scarring, etc. OK, he decided he needed to get that iliac artery open again. It seemed to go OK until the RN was cutting the monitor cardiac strips to put in my file. I saw a flatline! I said "OMG! That's a flatline!" She said "Yes your heart stopped twice, but it started again. We were just reaching for the paddles." So, of course, I'm concerned. Doctor says "Nothing happened." and maintained that. I wasn't going to let himdo the other side till a cardiologist checked it out. He requested the recording of the surgery and never got anything. I had stress test, echo, etc. Nothing. Without those records he had to take a guess...the sympathetic system...he's working on an artery and that nerve reacts and slows the heart. OK, I should have thought of that but it's been years since I had to use that nerve to slow a heart down. Anyway, while saying nothing happened, he wanted to know what nurse told me that. I wouldn't tell him because she probably would have been fired for telling the truth. I'd also had to go to my internist when he said the foot cramps weren't because of a vascular problem. Maybe I'm lacking magnesium... I went to my internist and all the numbers were perfect. Actually this was before the cardiologist and the artery surgery. Paid the internist, too. YIKES!

[millergrovesue]

That guy is either incompetent or uncaring or both. He deserved to be fired and told why. Wonder how many times he's been sued. Wonder if he's killed anyone yet.

I quit my GP back when I fell off my horse and hurt myself so badly. He discontinued my pain meds after a 2 weeks - one spent in the hospital because of fractured clavicle and 4 fractured ribs. My orthopedic surgeon said it was insane to stop the pain meds so soon and freely gave me refills for another 2-3 months. Turns out my GP had left his previous state under a cloud for over prescribing. Hmmmmmmmmmmmmm. Never went back to that GP but there was really no point in discussing it with him. I don't think he would have cared.

[ann jusko]

I feel like a 50 lb weight has been removed from my shoulders! This doctor left the former doctor's practice very quickly. He was pretty candid which I didn't expect. He said "Your cardiologist didn't get any records because there are none kept". No video or even audio of the procedures are done. No record...no lawsuit. The former doctor had told me the back pain was orthopedic. Two weeks after the open surgery, we ran away from home for Christmas. We went to Vegas and I walked and walked because I could. He's already called my internist and they, together, have a plan. I'll have CT scans from my waist to my toes. The radiation is secondary right now. I can't tell you have relieved I am.

[millergrovesue]

Wow, one doc not defending another. Amazing. Good riddance.

[ann jusko]

I was pretty amazed myself. He said that the only information he would get from him would be sketchy and not much use to him. He's had other patients of his come to him and he only got really basic info. He'd rather take info from me, my internist and the tests he'll be doing. I guess part of my relief is vindication that I wasn't wrong.