Starting with a GP.

My GP retired a few years ago and he was genuinely dedicated to do good and was quite talented.
However, even he was basing a lot on traditional concepts of the day.

My new GP picked from the Internet (by the wife) is young and even worse.

I won't go as far as saying the issue is Big Pharma controlling everything but they are a major reason. Seems like all they are interested in is selling a script.
It's not a huge stretch from the Idiocracy Hospital Scene

Anyone actually find a doctor that doesn't just want to solve everything with meds......or actually knows anything about nutrition?

Sure, a lot of YT Nutrition Guru's are just playing a part in opposing overuse of meds but in general most are on the right track.


This video just got me going again.



I sure would like to find one with the whole picture ... if they are out there?

timely post, I need to do the same,

last doc was very good, then I got to see mostly his PA's or NP's for the last few years before he went Concierge and later found out he had a midlife crisis,,,,drugs etc, and he left,

his PA, the last I saw, moved on to some other type of medicine,


so needing a physical etc, and not a clue how to find a good doc

Start with recommendations from trusted friends and associates. Then you have to assess the recommended doctor. If you find him/her to be wanting, then try another recommended doc. Life is full of such judgments.

I’ve been successful in my search for a good GP (and specialists), and dentist, financial advisor, attorney, etc.

I’m going through this now. I really wish provider lists were more consistent and transparent in reflecting a doctor’s medical education and work experience. We should be able to “interview” docs at least superficially before selecting them. Either that or don’t let us select at all which is effectively the case now.

I get a name and speciality. No years of experience or anything that may be helpful in deciding.

Not much luck for me. I recently underwent a full stress test and when I went into my Docs office a week later, they did not have the results. Since then I have heard nothing from them. At all. I guess I am ok.

I lost my GP a year and a half ago. He was tired of getting over-worked and missing his kids growing up. He switched to a private practice that is not covered by my insurance.

Now I 'should' be on the search for a new doc, but I'm pretty down on the industry as a whole.

I will follow this thread to see if actual insight is added.

Cheers~

My long-time PCP went concierge a year or so ago, and then closed his non-concierge clinic so I went looking. I picked a practice associated with a large local hospital chain based solely on their on-line representations, and my experiences with the hospital in question. I guess I got lucky to find a PCP that listens to me, and does not insist on exercising the latest fad medical approach. She is a NP supervised by an MD who I also like, and has similar perspectives. It doesn't hurt that she's gorgeous, the type that appeals to immature men.

So no specific recommendation, unless the OP wants to move to N. VA, but a reminder that sometimes you just get lucky.

You may not like this, but you can try NextDoor app. Plenty of posts on that. Ask for recommendations on who to go to and who to avoid.

I'd love to know.

My wife has had health issues for years. Shes seen many many doctors (both GPs and specialists) over the years without any luck in diagnosing or treating her.

We found a private cash only doc that my father and my SIL both separately recommended (Dr Carl Paige in Louisville, KY). I swear he took half her blood to perform tests on. He spent a solid hour with her going over the results. He was the one that diagnosed her with Lupus and that she had had lime disease (we never knew that) in the past which most likely caused the lupus. We were both extremely happy to have found a doctor that really took the time to dive into issues vs just treat symptoms.

Unfortunately, Dr Paige changed his business model to a subscription based one that you have to pay just to have access. You have to pay more to actually be seen and treated. That was not in our budget, so we have been looking for someone new for a while.

I wish I could help you but I’ve been lucky. I absolutely stumbled upon a good PCP and two good dentists.

The first PCP I saw after getting married was a small practice, close to retirement doctor. The first time I saw him he was asking if I owned firearms!

Fuck that guy! I scheduled my next visit with his new associate and haven’t left him since. That’s about 25 years now.

Word of mouth would be my best suggestion, then it’s trial and error. Don’t waste time, if something seems off, I’d bail and look elsewhere. Not having a doctor you like is a waste of everybody’s time.

I've noticed that after age 60 most docs don't really seem to care much about you. Covid was enlightening. I see an endocrinologist who insisted I MUST have certain labs every three months. Covid came along, and, magic, no more labs. My insurance company finally resolved the issue with mail in labs which worked but I didn't like. More and more I'm relying on VA, even though it's an hours drive in traffic to get there. In fact, the drive usually takes longer than the appointment.

I asked my manager at the tiny town bank .
After picking two that were on my insurance list.


Working out well.

I've got a great doctor but it's membership only concierge care. Costs $3k per year. I've been a member 3 years with zero complaints. High end practice opened by a world class cardiologist from a family of doctors. Other partner was ceo of same hospital. Cleveland Clinic level annual physical.

Gun guy, horse guy and we've totally connected.

https://www.conciergecaresi.co...is%20father%20(1967).

I have been a practicing PA for over 35 years now, and medicine has changed immensely in that time. The reality is the focus of internal medicine doctors is to prescribe medications. But I will also say that a lot of this was driven by patient demand- every time someone got a sniffle they would demand antibiotics even when not appropriate and if you didn’t cave you were a “ bad doctor”
Insurance and billing is another can of worms. Spend time giving a patient what they need - “tough love” counseling on lifestyle changes, diet and exercise and you don’t get paid more than if you just write an RX and leave the room in 5 minutes.
Many guidelines for medication usage are taken by more recently trained providers as etched in stone, without regard for the unique concerns comorbidities or other factors that may not make them a good choice for everyone.

Finding a provider with whom you get along and can for lack of a better term, negotiate with to develop a treatment plan best for you is difficult!

Some years back even I had a provider suggest I go on a statin for cholesterol - I had to point out my low triglycerides high HDL and low LDL when taken together made it not appropriate.

I gave up and started using the VA. An hour or so drive, but the PC Doc I have spends at least 30 minutes with me every time I see him.

As far as pill pushing, I’ve seen some at the VA that it seems is all they know how to do. I had an endocrine appointment today where the first thing the Dr. said was you’re a little overweight, we can prescribe a GLP-1 for that. Told her no thanks.

My best doctors all practice independently without being controlled by a larger medical group. With one exception, all mine own their own practice. I have noticed as well that the better doctor they are, the better the medical and office people working for them, and the better run their office is. I don't think that's an accident. Also, some of the best doctors I have were personally recommended by my other doctors. A great doctor doesn't recommend a crappy doctor, probably because the best doctors hang with other best doctors. Like any other profession, the best hang and associate with the best.

Crappy and mediocre doctors may let you suffer or die, but good doctors will take you to your best possible outcome and keep you there. And when they save your life they won't take credit for it, they're too busy keeping everyone else that needs them alive and healthy.

Every year I take a day or two off work before the holidays to purchase a load of Amish bakery goods, and drive to each office with a plate of goodies and a note to all my great doctors.

And my auto mechanic and his people.

If you have reliable wheels and a working body, you owe some gratitude to your doctor and mechanic

It ain’t easy. Without a recommendation, it is just picking a name and location. I had my Primary Care Physician (PCP) for 25+ years and she was wonderful and knew me well. She had to move due to a family emergency and she hired her replacement and recommended I continue with her replacement so I have. She is young and the only thing I don’t like is she is so number driven. If I gained 3 pounds or my blood pressure is up by a few points she wants to have a whole discussion about what is going on. Next month I have my annual physical with bloodwork so we will see how that goes. Last appointment she already said, “Let’s hope all those numbers come in good!” It is not all about the numbers in my opinion. Sometimes it is.

I was on a waiting list for a year. I chose an MD tweny years younger than myself with ties to the community. Being on the hospital staff for twenty years helped as well. I can argue with him and he is ok with that. He gets along well with the other physicians in the community and that helps in terms of referrals. He is not afraid to disagree with some of the other docs if need be. If you see a physician you learn how he thinks. He has same day appointments and will call in meds without me going into the office. I would be fine with a concierge practice if need be but I do not see him doing that. I would never select a physican based on google referrals or advertising.

quote:

Originally posted by Fredward:
I've noticed that after age 60 most docs don't really seem to care much about you. Covid was enlightening. I see an endocrinologist who insisted I MUST have certain labs every three months. Covid came along, and, magic, no more labs. My insurance company finally resolved the issue with mail in labs which worked but I didn't like. More and more I'm relying on VA, even though it's an hours drive in traffic to get there. In fact, the drive usually takes longer than the appointment.

Valid point you bring up. I went around with a Urgent Care Physician that initially refused to give me Paxlovid for confirmed Covid within the first twenty four hours. His excuse (contrary to what my Cadiologist believes) was that it was better for me to let it run its course despite my being 65+, X3 bypass patient, high BP, high Cholesterol and asthma.

He left the exam room to take a phone call, as he closed the door I was on the phone to my Cardiologist who also serves as my PCP. When he came back in he reluctantly (so he said) would prescribe Paxlovid. As I was getting in my Cardiologist’s nurse called,,she had already called in a prescription for me and told me which of my daily regimen of meds to stop taking while using the Paxlovid.

quote:

Originally posted by Rey HRH:
You may not like this, but you can try NextDoor app. Plenty of posts on that. Ask for recommendations on who to go to and who to avoid.

never thought of that,

however my local nextdoor is full of Karens having a hissy cause some young kid of color walked past her house,