Switching Doctors/Clinics

[Ratatosk]

DH and I are looking into finding a different local doctor for DS's health care. We have two hospitals/clinics in our town and have gone to our current one since the beginning of time. I've talked about our current clinic at length in other posts before, so won't go into the gorey details.

We're seriously considering going to a local family practice doctor who another cfer suggested. They also go to the U of MN for their main CF care, but locally they go to this individual.

So we've been discussing going elsewhere, got a CF clinic appointment at our regular clinic scheduled in a couple of months and I'm torn. Feel like if I cancel the regular clinic appointment I'm burning our bridges, but going to the clinic appointment makes me sooo uncomfortable and I get so annoyed I feel as if my head will explode when dealing with some of the issues there.

And I don't think it's just DS's CF care. It's me. Last year I couldn't get in to see my dermatologist for my annual skin cancer check, so I had my records sent to an independent clinic and jumped ship and felt bad about doing that. I think deep down, I'm afraid we'll get put on some double secret list and blackballed by the medical community -- like Elaine and Kramer on Seinfeld.

Any suggestions on how I can just suck it up and deal with it?

 

[thelizardqueen]

At this point in my life I'm wanting to switch CF docs as well. I've been dealing with my current CF doc for 8 years now, and have become fed up with his care. God bless my CF nurse, who also works for a female respirologist in the same hospital informed me that this other doctor is now taking on CF patients, and is apparantly really good. I was worried about having to ask my doctor for the transfer because I didn't think he would do it, and I felt so guilty, but it turns out that my nurse will take care of everything, and I won't have to tell my current doc that I am leaving.

The way I see it, is you are the customer, and the doctor is the service provider. You have no reason to feel guilty, etc. This is for the better health of your child. Do what you have to do. All I can say is that it won't be like Seinfeld - LOL. And all you have to do is think of what is better for your child - that should be motivation enough to switch without concerns. You have to be your son's health advocate.

 

[Mommafirst]

I understand your discomfort, especially when there are so few CF
clinics in any given place -- makes you feel like you would be
antagonistic and create enemies.  But everyone has a right to
get a second opinion, and a third opinion, and to switch care if
you prefer a different doctor.  I was talking to our CF team
PT last week, and she told me its very common for people to go get
a second opinion -- we have another CF center about an hour away --
and she said that people from there come here and those here go
there.  You have to find the right fit:  a doctor and CF
team that meet your needs and your sons needs, both in terms of
their approach and their personalities!  Good luck!!

 

[tonrsoul82]

I had been seing the same Dr since I Was diagonosed at 3 months
old.  She retired 3 years ago when I was 20.  Even though
she was a childrens Dr. she would keep in excellent contact with
the CF specialist.  After she retired it took me 3 different
DR's to find one to my liking. like thelizardqueen said it is our
choice to pick the DR we are a customer to them. The first doctor I
tried i don't think he knew the damndest thing about CF.  He
put me on a antibiotic that my body had grown immune to years ago
and has not worked since. (leviquin) and otld me to drink more
water.  well guess what week later I was in the hospital with
a bad case of pneumonia.  locally I ended up going to a DR
that specalized in emphazima (sp) but he seems to be doing a good
job.  I have been seing him now for a year.  I will admit
I am not the best for going on regular appts. ( must be a man thing
to not like hospitals/dr's)  But if I feel a cold I get in and
get some meds.  And I go to the CF clinic Every 3 months.

 

[folione]

I think I know what you mean - kindof feeling like you owe the Dr. some sort of loyalty even though they're no longer meeting your needs. Doing what's best for the tot is obviously the objective rationalization for making a change - but the wierd emotional thing can still bug you..One thing I remind myself in these situations is that part of it is my own ego about the relationships: I think the other person is thinking about me much more than they really are, but really, they'll probably not miss me much if at all. harsh and unsentimental, but I think probably realistic about most of my relationships with service providers.

 

[Scarlett81]

Switching is one of the hardest things to do. After I got married, my Ped Cf center transitioned me to a new adult doc. After 2 years of a bad health decline, I had to switch to a new one. I felt so bad b/c the doctor was awful, but the staff was really nice. They even called me for months after leaving to see how I was.
I didn't want to hurt anyone's feelings at the time, and I just said I was considering moving, and I worked in NYC so it made sense to try another doc. Maybe I should have told them the truth. That way they'd know how bad they were! Since then, I've heard of other patients that feel the same way about this center as I did-like the exact same complaints! So it wasn't just me!

From a business sense, which we forget doctors are-business men/women, you are the customer, not them. They should be trying to please you. If they are really faulty, you should leave. You don't want to stay with a doc so he doesn't feel bad, and then have the patient's health deteriorate b/c of it! Obviously.

You know what to do I think, you're just having trepidations b/c you're a nice person.

And FYI-we all have Elaine/Conspiracy moments! Don't worry about being badlisted-no list exists!<img src="i/expressions/face-icon-small-smile.gif" border="0">

 

[coltsfan715]

Liza,

I am actually going through the same thing right now, but on the adult level. I have been seeing a Pulmonologist since I switched to Adults at age 21. There is a new Adult CF Care Center opening locally and I am wanting to switch offices. I have gone to see the new doc and have decided to change, but have been struggling with how to tell my old doc. I will let you know one of the things I have thought of and something you may want to ask yourself.

One what are you wanting from the old doc? Are you wanting to leave and never go back, are you wanting to maintain seeing them(just not as often) or are you simply wanting to keep the option open in case you need to go there down the road?

If you are wanting to leave and never go back then I would think cancelling the appointment would be fine.
If you are wanting to maintain care, but just minimized the visits through the year - then I would keep the appointment and tell them what your plans are. Tell them you are going to take your child to a local doc (closer to your home) and that you would like to come see them maybe every 6 months or every year instead of every 3 months, just to keep the door open and so they can keep updated on how he is doing in case the time arises down the road that he needs to go back to them.
If you just want to keep the door open, you could cancel the appointment and write a letter or call and talk to the doc about the situation. Tell them that you are happy with their services (even if you're not - flattery works if you are trying to keep people open to your ideas) and that you are grateful for what they have done for you and your child, but that you would like to try taking your child to a doctor that is closer to your home and see how that works for you guys. I would also mention that you would like to be able to come back to see this doctor if there is a situation that you feel it is necessary.

Also to add - I would NOT do anything with your old doc until you have been to this new guy and talked with him and made sure that is where you want to be. I have gone through several bouts of "I need a new doc" and have gathered my records and headed to new appointments only to find that they were not able to offer me anything my current doc was offering and that I didn't much like the facility.

I hope you have a great day and that you figure out what you are going to do. I know it isn't easy, but in the end you have to do what is best for you and your family and rest assured that you are doing the right thing.

Lindsey

 

[Ratatosk]

One of my primary concerns when DS was diagnosed, was finding quality care for him locally. I remember talking to our CF doctor in the City about it --- don't want to have to drive 250 miles if DS has an ear infection and he said, he'd do some checking for us, but on a side note said "there are some people who commute that distance". So I think even back then he knew we'd have some difficulties.

After we chose a pediatrician and our CF doctor check into him, we could tell he had reservations, comment was "should be okay, but I've gotten burned before" -- meaning some of his patients have gotten substandard care elsewhere.

I realize that going to the doctor, we're the customer... I just have this feeling in the pit of my stomach, I feel bad. Maybe it's change, maybe it's not wanting to offend. We're not going to do anything to burn any bridges. We're researching our options, will talk to our CF doctor in the city about it. Part of it I suspect is developing a thicker skin.

Thanks for your response everyone, I just feel like such a weirdo -- go to the doctor, get treated like moron-girl, yet I'm still worried about offending. L

 

[Allie]

WE felt the same way when we switched from a CF clinic to a pulmonologist. Like the Cf community was going to blackball us, even though it was an excellent decision for us, and that bore out in Ry's health. For us, it wasn't just the clinic itself, it was all the people involved with CF going "You're not going to a clinic? Are you stupid?" Taking a different road is never easy. It neve fails to amaze me though, the people that are paranoid about shopping carts and more than one Cfer in schools have no trouble with a clinic full of Cfers lol. Who knew? So, yes, it's normal to feel wierd. I felt wierd when switching my psych too.

 

[Ratatosk]

Thank you for your responses. I just called the CF clinic and asked to reschedule, so we have an opportunity to talk to our CF doctor in the city. The receptionist at the CF clinic was relieved we were rescheduling because they were overbooked for the next two clinics. I'm relieved too --- 'cuz overbooked makes me a little edgy.

Allie's post really hit home. We're given grief for sending out child to preschool, swimming lessons, letting him play outdoors during the summer and winter -- yet the same medical professionals who have problem with this, see no problem with a teeny tiny clinic waiting room and/or playing musical exam rooms with 10-15 other cf patients on clinic day. I'll keep you all posted. Liza