No, I'm not looking for recreational drugs! I continue on my perennial search for a good doctor. I thought it might help to write down exactly what I'm looking for.
* a small, friendly office. I want the doctor to come in knowing my name - and at the very least, to have him/her use the good sense to look me up on the computer screen BEFORE walking in the exam room door, to offer me the illusion that s/he actually remembers me.
* a doctor who's up on the cutting edge of medical science. I want my doctor to be aware of all the relevant technology and willing/enthusiastic about using it. (No holistic medicine, no homeopathy, no telling me to go home and take herbs. I respect the last hundred and fifty years worth of modern medicine, and I would like my doctor to as well.)
* an office that's actually open occasionally. One of my ex-PCPs had an office that didn't take phone calls until 10, knocked off at 11:30 for lunch, picked up the phone again at 2, and then turned them off again at 4:30. Not my idea of professional behavior. If you're a doctor, your patients should be able to reach your office during business hours. End of story.
* in my best dreams, an office with a nurse line. I can call my pedi's office if I'm looking for medical advice and speak to a nurse, and it cuts way down on office visits and hassle. Why can't I do that with my PCP?
I don't delude myself that I'm really going to find an office that's conveniently located that will embody all these ideals ... but it sure would be nice!
* a small, friendly office. I want the doctor to come in knowing my name - and at the very least, to have him/her use the good sense to look me up on the computer screen BEFORE walking in the exam room door, to offer me the illusion that s/he actually remembers me.
* a doctor who's up on the cutting edge of medical science. I want my doctor to be aware of all the relevant technology and willing/enthusiastic about using it. (No holistic medicine, no homeopathy, no telling me to go home and take herbs. I respect the last hundred and fifty years worth of modern medicine, and I would like my doctor to as well.)
* an office that's actually open occasionally. One of my ex-PCPs had an office that didn't take phone calls until 10, knocked off at 11:30 for lunch, picked up the phone again at 2, and then turned them off again at 4:30. Not my idea of professional behavior. If you're a doctor, your patients should be able to reach your office during business hours. End of story.
* in my best dreams, an office with a nurse line. I can call my pedi's office if I'm looking for medical advice and speak to a nurse, and it cuts way down on office visits and hassle. Why can't I do that with my PCP?
I don't delude myself that I'm really going to find an office that's conveniently located that will embody all these ideals ... but it sure would be nice!
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