I've gone to a few different "clinics"...Stanford was the first (and by far the best, IMO). There I had the entire CF team and the docs were/are dedicated strictly to CF. When I moved, I commuted 3 hours to continue going to Stanford because, like an idiot I didn't research it and had no idea there was a CF center practically in my own backyard! I didn't have a local doc at all though, which was another bad idea and I had a pretty bad incident which required immediate hospitalization and that's how I came to switch clinics. The current clinic has the whole team too (social worker, nutritionist, RT, nurse coordinator...) but the docs, although specializing in CF, also see other pulmo patients. Sometimes I can't see MY doc because he's seeing non-CFers and I have to see the other doc (who I don't like much at all). For a brief time, I had to switch due to insurance - I had Kaiser. Don't know how many of you are familiar with them, but don't ever switch to Kaiser, lol. They're trying to get the whole CF thing down, but they're really still learning. (by the way, Kaiser is what my parents had when I was born - they missed my diagnosis and I didn't find out I had CF till I was 11).
I'm currently looking for a job back near Stanford as my insurance won't pay for me to be seen there when there is an accredited CF center here locally. If I have to get a transplant, and it's lookin' like that may be happening within the next few years, I want to get it at Stanford. Period.
It's always difficult for anyone to switch docs - I think it's just a lot more difficult for those of us who have chronic illnesses and have been cared for by the same team for so many years. I was open-minded and willing to try other centers and I can't complain (except about Kaiser, lol), but ultimately I have a connection with my first center that I'm not sure could be established anywhere else. I'd be commuting those three hours today if it were feasible. That's just me though.
I'm currently looking for a job back near Stanford as my insurance won't pay for me to be seen there when there is an accredited CF center here locally. If I have to get a transplant, and it's lookin' like that may be happening within the next few years, I want to get it at Stanford. Period.
It's always difficult for anyone to switch docs - I think it's just a lot more difficult for those of us who have chronic illnesses and have been cared for by the same team for so many years. I was open-minded and willing to try other centers and I can't complain (except about Kaiser, lol), but ultimately I have a connection with my first center that I'm not sure could be established anywhere else. I'd be commuting those three hours today if it were feasible. That's just me though.