And people wonder why I have no faith in doctors.....

[ginnie5]

its been a long week here. Ds 8yo left Monday morning for church camp. he was fine when he left....no signs of him getting sick. Tuesday at 3pm I got a call that he had a 102 temp and was wheezing. I made arrangements to pick him up. When I got him he just sounded croupy really bad...it wasn't in his lungs. Wednesday morning though it was.
I called the doc we use. We've been at this practice almost since it opened probably about 10 years. They are no vax friendly and open to alternatives. Over the last few years though they have grown...alot. There are now nurse practitioners and pa's. You never know who you'll get and very seldom do you actually see the doc.
We are not ones to run for every sniffle or sore throat either. Years ago when we actually saw the doc her knew that if we were bringing them in it was serious.
So I take ds in Wednesday morning...the pa says he is this close to walking pneumonia. he sends us home with a script for an oral steroid and an antibiotic.
First we couldn't get the antibiotic down ds. He has had issues with liquid antibiotics before but has taken amoxycillin since and gotten it down..not easily but he has. we tried and tried with this...no luck. As soon as it hit his throat he was throwing up. Called the doc's office back ad got the voicemail. Told them what was happening. All this is about 2pm Wednesday. I heard nothing that day so Thursday morning I called the pharmacy to see what if anything they can do. They told me that the doc's office called something else in wed afternoon. Its a completely different antibiotic..it says for him to take it 10 days and there is 16 days worth in the bottle. Ds takes it no problem.
A few hours later he starts crying that his stomach is hurting. he hasnt eaten much since Tuesday so I thought maybe it was just bothering him on an almost empty stomach.
Today I made sure he ate before he took it....didn't change anything. Within an hour he was crying with his stomach and shortly after that started itching all over. That set off warning bells so I called the pharmacy to see if that was a side effect. Its an allergic reaction. they marked his file right away and told me to call the doctor's office. I did right away. I left another message at a different branch because the message at our branch is that they don't check messages after 12 pm on Friday. All of this happened about 2.
Benadryl took care of the itching and slowly his stomach quit hurting. I've been online looking and both of those symptoms are associated with an allergic reaction...the antibiotic is also in the same family that bothers me. I also read that throwing up everytime you try to take one of these can also be a sign of allergy to them. I have told them repeatedly that ds cannot swalow liquids.
So now here we sit with nothing to give him and no call back. A trip to the urgent care is $150 up front with insurance. I am just so past being annoyed. My child is sick and feels terrible and they can't be bothered to return a call. What is the point of having a family doc if i have to go to urgent care on weekends? And yes I am starting the search for a new doctor. So we've spent a couple hundred this week on medical care that in my opinion sucked and have two prescriptions that are useless. And ds is still sick with more visits in the coming week to probably another doctor to try and get this taken care of.

[DamnearaFarm]

I understand you're frustrated because your son is hurting, but I honestly don't see that he recieved sub-par care or anything that would cause anyone to lose faith in the doctor. He was sick, you took him in, they gave you meds to get him better. He couldn't take the med, so you told them. They gave him something else. What else did you want them to do? Maybe they assume if it's important you'll come in instead of leaving a message, knowing they're too busy to return calls after noon on Friday.
I hope he feels better soon. Being sick during the summer is horrible.

[Patt]

I would go in to their office and stand there until they sort it out. Sounds like they like to take off early on Fridays and if you get sick and you are their patient well that's just too bad for you. Not unusual sadly. I hope you can find something for him, to be honest I would go to your Urgent care just because he has now had small doses of 2 different antibiotics and his pnuemonia is busy building a resistance to them plus getting worse. I would not let it go for 2 more days.

[FyredUp]

If I make an appointment to see my DOCTOR, I expect to see my DOCTOR. Fortunately, my doctor's office hasn't sunk to that rip off of PA's and nurse practitioners. Why is it a ripoff? Because I know the cost is EXACTLY the same although the level of expertise isn't. If they are scheduling me to see a PA or a NP then they should make that clear and I will decide whether that is acceptable or not to me.

I had an orthopedic appointment for my knee, I was scheduled to see the Doctor. The first time I did. The follow up was with a PA and my next appointment was supposed to be with a doctor again. When the PA walked in I flipped out and said am I seeing the doctor today or not. The PA walked out and in came the office manager. I repeated my question to which she replied no, not this visit. I said okay goodbye this appointment never happened and don't even think about billing me since I was misled as to who I was seeing. She says the PA is a highly skilled medical professional. I said is she an orthopedic DOCTOR. Well no, of course not. I said do you realize I need to get this fixed so I can go back to work? I need to see the doctor and decide if we are doing surgery or if I am just going back to work. The doc popped in, said no surgery, another week of rest, then see me and we will go from there. I said will I see YOU or will it be this rigamarole again. He said you will see me.

End of story from that time on I saw the doctor, ONLY.

To me all the PA and NP system is is a way to get the same money from the patient or insurance for cheaper workers. Plain and simple.

[Freeholder]

I don't consider PA's to be a rip. The times I've seen a PA, they took more time explaining things, they got the diagnosis correct (something doctors haven't always done), and they did seem to know what they were doing. I'm not saying that they are better than doctors for specialized things, but for a lot of things they are at least as good. Consider that a modern PA has probably as much training as a doctor used to get.

Of course, medical costs are way out of line, regardless of who you see.

Kathleen

[dezingg]

I actually preferred the PA over the doctor as well.

[Patt]

Me too! Best "doctor" I ever had was a Nurse Practioner who worked in a rural clinic, ton of common sense and she didn't do a million tests either. Always took the conservative route.

[FyredUp]

It's simple then cut the cost. They are not trained to the same level so they shouldn't charge as much.

A BLS ambulance ride doesn't cost as much as an ALS ambulance ride. Why? Lower level of training and skills.

[QoTL]

I haven't necessarily lost faith in my doctor's office although the last time I was in there I got into a huge 'debate' with the doctor over vax (keep in mind, I did my research. My children have all their vax except chix pox. It was the principal of the thing that annoyed me. Why do people assume if you make a decision to forgo a vax that you are automatically an idiot? I would hazard a guess that the vast majority who decide to buck the trend do it BECAUSE they have educated themselves first). The young doctor started throwing around 'herd immunity' and 'cellular mutation' at me. Too bad I didn't fall off the turnip truck yesterday. Even WITH the shot for whooping cough, both of my children AND myself have had it. So much for vax'ing everyone and having 'herd immunity' (and really, doesn't herd immunity to something cause mutations, as viruses work to combat the vax? Isn't that why the big GMO sellers advise farmers to leave some of their crops as non-GMOs?)

Now the school nurse.. ERG. I could start a whole rant about her and the way she feels everything is cause for concern, and that her advice is better than the advice I get from the physician!


I still like my doc's office. They generally do take the time to answer questions, and generally do seem to know what they are doing. Oh, wait, because I haven't gone in a few years I got a letter telling me to sched an appointment or they were dropping me off their roster. Guess I'm not even really their patient anymore. Nevermind.

[ecbreed]

You ar right thier is a difference between the NP's and MD's. The NP's usually know more!!! I have worked in the medical field for a very long time 20+ years. I will take an NP anyday.

[DamnearaFarm]

My mother's first cancer was discovered by our NP. Mom went to her and told her something was wrong. No change in anything to note, but something felt off. The NP did tests, all came back fine. She told my mom - if you feel like something is wrong, then it is. It was endometrial cancer. If it hadn't been for that NP and her believing in her patient, mom might not be here today.
Same NP- I had excruciating migraines and womanly health problems. She suggested that I stay on the pill continually, only coming off a few times a year. I did and ALL the problems were alleviated, and when I did go off the pill what problems there were had been greatly reduced. Doesn't sound too amazing, right? There's a new method that does the same thing, been on the market a year or so? We did this NINE years ago, before it was even common practice.

Another NP, years ago taught me how to make ice *gel* packs with rubbing alcohol. She also gave me invaluable tips on dealing with carpal tunnel and taking care of my health on the cheap.

I don't see PAs and NPs as a means to cut cost, I see them as a valuable team member who lessens the stress and frees up a bit more time for everyone in the practice.

[Country Lady]

Ginnie, our local Urgent Cares (Immediate Care is what it's called here), is the same co-pay with insurance as what the doctor's office is. Emergency at the hospital is a different story. I hope your son gets the medicine he needs soon and gets to feeling better.

[SunsetSonata]

If not for PA's there would be much longer wait times to see a doctor. I thought it was common knowledge that family doctors are retiring in record numbers and not being replaced, as most doctors go into specialties rather than general care. If there wasn't a need, why would a doctor spend the money on a nurse practitioner? Fyred up, I understand being irritated that you thought you were seeing the doctor, but your behavior about it makes me think you're just a difficult patient.

Anyway, this thread is drifting. Ginnie I guess the office message doesn't offer the number of a doctor on call? Sorry for the difficulty, weekends are the worst for things going wrong. Hope your kid gets the care he needs soon.

[Terri]

IF the other branch is supposed to check their mesges, then they dropped the ball. If they also do not check them after 12, then they did not. IMHO.

[FyredUp]

Originally Posted by SunsetSonata

If not for PA's there would be much longer wait times to see a doctor. I thought it was common knowledge that family doctors are retiring in record numbers and not being replaced, as most doctors go into specialties rather than general care. If there wasn't a need, why would a doctor spend the money on a nurse practitioner? Fyred up, I understand being irritated that you thought you were seeing the doctor, but your behavior about it makes me think you're just a difficult patient.

Anyway, this thread is drifting. Ginnie I guess the office message doesn't offer the number of a doctor on call? Sorry for the difficulty, weekends are the worst for things going wrong. Hope your kid gets the care he needs soon.

A difficult patient? Really? Because this was an issue that was keeping me off my job. The visit where the PA came in was supposed to be a Doctor visit with the orthopedic SURGEON to determine whether or not surgery was needed and when/if I could return to work.

By the way, the PA read the MRI wrong and said there was a cartilage tear and there wasn't, delaying my return to work by over 2 weeks.

To me, if I make a doctor's appointment I expect to see a DOCTOR. If I make an appointment and it is something that an NP or PA can handle then tell me that and give me the option of going that route if I choose it. Don't surprise me with it when I walk in the door.

I have a tremendous relationship with my regular doctor and his staff, from the receptionist to the nurses to my doctor. They have always taken great care of me and my family. I go out of my way to let them know I appreciate it to.

[Terri]

Originally Posted by FyredUp

To me, if I make a doctor's appointment I expect to see a DOCTOR. If I make an appointment and it is something that an NP or PA can handle then tell me that and give me the option of going that route if I choose it. Don't surprise me with it when I walk in the door.

My kids doctors office now tells us this when they make the appointment. It IS a little off-putting to wave someone else do the health ccare, isn't it?

My kids have always gotten good care from the PAs, I just like to know who the appointment is with!

[SunsetSonata]

Originally Posted by FyredUp

A difficult patient? Really? Because this was an issue that was keeping me off my job. The visit where the PA came in was supposed to be a Doctor visit with the orthopedic SURGEON to determine whether or not surgery was needed and when/if I could return to work.

By the way, the PA read the MRI wrong and said there was a cartilage tear and there wasn't, delaying my return to work by over 2 weeks.

My apologies then, considering your prior negative experience.

To me, if I make a doctor's appointment I expect to see a DOCTOR. If I make an appointment and it is something that an NP or PA can handle then tell me that and give me the option of going that route if I choose it. Don't surprise me with it when I walk in the door.

While I understand the disappointment, everyone else is going to demand to see the doctor too, and obviously the doc can't work 24/7 accommodating everyone or else there wouldn't be a PA. I'd think anything requiring further input from the doctor would come to light through the PA. However, considering that your trust in this PA's abilities has been compromised, I don't blame you for wanting to see the doctor and I hope Doc would be accommodating.

I would hope the doc would be better than the PA at reading MRI's, however this might not necessarily be the case, if that's who screens the MRI's on a regular basis. The doc may have made the same interpretation - or maybe not, I'm just offering this as a possibility and not an assumption. I remember where I used to work at a vet's, some of the more demanding clients insisted that a certain procedure was performed by the vet, when it was actually the techs who had a TON more experience, despite both being equally legally qualified. If the tech's services hadn't been needed, the vet would have saved his money and done it himself, but frankly using the tech was in everyone's best interests. As it was, he had to tell those people that if his own pet needed this procedure, he'd give it to his tech for the best result.

[Helena]

Actually NP have more education than PA's do..Not saying that PA's aren't not well educated. I guess I am very fortunate when I see my doctor or NP. They take time with me and never seem to be in a hurry. My husbands male doctor is always checking his watch and hurrying around. Mine will do Conservative treatments but will listen to my "complaints" and not just what the test have said. It just so happens both are women and don't really think that makes a difference. Have known men in these positions and they were wonderful too. And yes..especially in rural areas if it wasn't for them we would never get health care. Do not complain to the doctor's or NP or PA's about the cost you pay take it to the health care system or your insurance company. They are the ones that are setting the prices for you care.

[FyredUp]

My regular doctor sees his patients himself. He has no PA's or NP's.

The office where a PA saw me was a specialist, an orthopedic surgeon's office. I will never go back there again if I am not seeing the doctor.

I am not telling anyone to do what I do in this case. I am telling you what I intend to do base on my experience.

[Ken Scharabok]

Recall reading somewhere the average life span of a medical doctor is 60 years. WELL below the average.