Guest guest Posted December 12, 2002 Report Share Posted December 12, 2002 ----- Original Message ----- From: " Kathi " <pureheart@...> Sent: Wednesday, December 11, 2002 8:47 PM Subject: Find a Doc > If you received this e mail by error, click REPLY and add REMOVE and you > will no longer receive Toxic Discovery posts. > -------------- > > Toxic Discovery is working diligently on our own Physician Database. If > you have a doctor you would like to recommend or one that you would like > NOT to > recommend, please forward the following information. > > Name of Doctor: > Specialty: > Address: > City: > State: > Zip: > Phone: > Fax: > E-Mail: > Website: > > Other information that would be helpful i.e. > > 1. How many breast implanted ill women has he/she seen? > 2. Did they do medical reviews during the Global? > 3. Cost of procedure or exam. > 4. Do they accept insurance. Medicare? Medicaid? > > Toxic Discovery will be providing you with a form in the near future to > reflect the above information. We are also designing a brochure to > provide to your doctor > to inquire if he/she would like to be included in our " Toxic " Physician > Directory. The Directory will be coming out the first part of February > or shortly thereafter. > Any injured consumer (who has received implants) recommending a doctor, > will be provided a complimentary copy of the directory when completed. > > Toxic Discovery will also be updating our Support Group List. If you are > an active Support Group leader or a member of a active support group, > please e-mail us the > name of your group, address, contact numbers and what support your > organization provides. We will publish this information in the directory > free of charge. > > Breast Wishes, > > The " Toxic " Staff > ------------------ > > http://www.fmaware.org/newsletter/perfectfit.htm > > THE PERFECT FIT > Seven Steps to Finding a Doctor Who is Right for You > > by Catharine L. Shaner, MD, FAAP > > > > " There is nothing more I can do for you. You have to learn to live > with it. " Translation: it is time to find a new doctor. > For many patients, the next step is to open the phone book to an > eye-catching ad and call for an appointment. Hold the phone! We tour > neighborhoods with the best schools to > shop for a house, we test drive cars to check out the features we want, > and we read Consumer Reports before we buy the latest electronic gadget. > Why, oh why, do we pick our doctor > from a phone book? > There is a better way. Consider this systematic approach to finding > your " Dr. Right. " > > STEP 1 - Define your specific requirements. > > Each of you has unique needs and circumstances that are important > factors in your decision-making process. Ask yourself these questions: > . Do I need a specialist? Generalists, such as family doctors, are > trained to know about a very broad range of topics. Your family doctor > treats all of your problems, not just > fibromyalgia (FM). If you need more in-depth treatment for your FM, she > can be helpful in coordinating care with a specialty doctor. Specialists > have extra training in their field of > expertise and may be needed to diagnose a condition or provide advanced > treatment. Traditionally, the rheumatologist is the specialist who most > often diagnoses and treats > fibromyalgia. > . How far can I travel? Patients with chronic or complex conditions > would travel any distance to see a good doctor, if they could. > Realistically, driving is very hard on some and > impossible for others. Think about what you can consistently manage. > . Does my insurance restrict who I can see or where? It is easier to > work within your insurance guidelines than outside of the network, but > consider all possible doctors at this point, > regardless of insurance. > > STEP 2 - Make a list of potential doctors. > > Compile an interview list with the names and phone numbers of > doctors who interest you. Leave several spaces between each name to jot > notes and record appointment dates and > times. The phone book is one way to start your list. Most yellow pages > list physicians by specialty and location, two of the criteria from step > one. Additional sources for locating > doctors include: > . State and county medical societies > . Hospital referral services > . Other doctors or nurses > . Word of mouth (relatives, neighbors, co-workers) > . Local chapter of the Arthritis Foundation > . Web sites (See " Finding a Doctor on the Web " ) > . Support groups - If there is a support group for fibromyalgia in your > area, you have the inside scoop! There sits a group of people with your > condition; people that are satisfied or > dissatisfied with doctors of all kinds. Don't be shy about asking for > names. Keep in mind, however, that everyone's needs are different > regarding physicians. Hear complaints? Ask > specifically what others dislike. For example, an excellent doctor might > be worth a long waiting room time. > > STEP 3 - Make phone calls. > > Interview list in hand, your first phone call should be to the > office manager for each doctor or medical group. Leave a message that > you would like to speak with her about the > doctors and the office, as a potential patient. The office manager knows > the doctors' training and experience. She can answer many of your > routine questions, leaving you valuable time > when you interview the doctor. Questions to ask the office manager: > . Is the office accepting new patients? > . What are the office hours and locations? > . What is the accessibility of the office and facilities? > . How long is the wait for a new patient appointment? A routine > appointment? A sick visit? > . In case of emergency or hospitalization, who will see me? > . Does your office participate with my insurance? Is the office > planning to drop that insurance in the next year? If I need to go on > medical assistance, can I continue to see you? > . What is your policy for working out a payment plan if I fall on hard > times? > . Is there a fee for an interview with a doctor? > . Do any of the doctors treat patients with fibromyalgia? How many > patients with fibromyalgia do they treat? > . Which doctor do you think will suit my needs best? Explain briefly > the style of practice you are looking for. Be specific. State, for > example, " I want a doctor who is direct and to the > point. " The office manager can certainly identify the doctor with the > sense of humor, but she can't really judge which doctors listen well or > respect their patients. Some questions are > better asked of other patients. > . Is there anything else I should know about your practice? > Finish by asking to make an appointment to interview a doctor in > the group. Make it clear to the scheduler that you want a no-cost > interview with the doctor, not an exam. On your > interview list, jot down the appointment date and time as well as a few > notes from your talk with the manager. > After interviewing the managers of all the offices on your list, > choose the doctors you would like to interview. Be sure to call back and > cancel the appointments for the other offices. > > STEP 4 - Interview the doctors. > > This is the trying-on time. Trust your gut feeling. Your main goal > is to interact with each doctor, checking for a comfortable fit and > ability to work together as a team. This is not the > time, however, to ask about specific problems, such as why your knee is > swollen today. That would require an examination. > Plan to arrive early and listen to the conversations in the waiting > room. Are the patients complaining? Can you overhear conversations from > the front desk? Observe the facilities for > cleanliness, privacy, and accessibility. In the interview room, can you > overhear nurses talking or, worse, arguing? Is the staff pleasant and > happy to be there? > When you greet the doctor, give her two lists. 1. A list of your > current medications. 2. A short list of your medical problems or > symptoms. Be brief. You just want to know if the > doctor treats the disorders that you have. For example, state " gall > bladder removed 1996, " not every belch that led up to the surgery. > Also prepare a list of specific questions you want to ask the > doctor. Remember, this is a 10 to 15 minute interview. You want to > address your biggest concerns, so list your most > important questions first. Then be sure to take your list with you! > Examples of questions to ask the doctor: > . Are you comfortable with diagnosing and treating fibromyalgia? > . How many FM patients have you treated? > . Are you familiar with my other conditions? > . What medications do you usually prescribe for fibromyalgia? Do you > have a problem with prescribing the medications that I am taking? What > is your policy on refills? (Be specific, > especially with narcotics.) > . What do you feel is adequate pain control? > . Can you treat depression or must I see a specialist? > . Are you familiar with alternative therapies? How do you feel about > _______? Fill in any alternative therapies you currently use or are > interested in trying, such as herbal supplements, > massage therapy, acupuncture, etc. > . One of the problems I had with my last doctor was her lack of respect > for me and the feeling she really didn't listen to me. How can you and I > communicate best? > . Do you do any teaching? > . I have disability papers to be filled out every month. How would that > be handled? > . Sometimes I find articles on fibromyalgia that are helpful. Would you > be willing to review them? > . Lastly, ask any questions the office manager couldn't answer. > Be honest with yourself about what did not work with your last > doctor. Whether experienced in treating fibromyalgia or not, you want a > physician who is willing to take the time to > learn from you and with you. A doctor who teaches keeps up to date. At > the very minimum, you need a doctor who believes that fibromyalgia is a > real disorder! > Reflect upon the visit and jot down your impressions. Did the > doctor's sense of humor hit you just right or seem offensive? Pay > attention to body language. Did you get good eye > contact and a smile that crinkled the eyes? Did she believe in > fibromyalgia? Were your questions answered? Did she listen with > patience? Importantly, do you and she agree on the > topics that concern you the most? > > STEP 5 - Check credentials. > > This is an important, but often overlooked, step. Anyone can put an > ad in the phone book or hang a sign on the office door. Here's where you > can check a doctor's credentials: > . State or county medical society > . American Board of Medical Specialties (ABMS): www.abms.org > . Specialty licensing boards: www.abms.org/member.asp > A lawsuit does not necessarily mean a doctor is incompetent. Some > physicians are willing to take on especially challenging cases and may > be sued more often, even if no wrong > occurred. You should expect, however, that your doctor has not had > serious disciplinary actions, such as sexual misconduct or narcotics > offenses. > > STEP 6 - Talk with your insurance company. > > Policy limits and approved providers vary widely and change > frequently, so call your insurance company to be sure you have the most > up-to-date information. Questions for the > insurance company: > . Are these doctors on my plan? > . Do I need a referral to see any of them? > . If they any are not on the plan, what is the policy for seeing a > doctor out-of-network? > Seeing a doctor who is not on your plan may be allowed, but usually > requires a higher co-pay or deductible. Do not cross the doctor off your > list just yet. If this is the best physician > for you, then perhaps it is money well spent. > > STEP 7 - Choose the doctor you would like to try and schedule an > appointment for a complete evaluation as a new patient. > > Be sure to tell the scheduler you are a new patient with multiple > problems and will need one to one and one-half hours. Request a copy of > your medical records from your previous > doctor. If your medical chart is complex, allow the new doctor a few > weeks to review it. Deliver it in person and ask for a receipt. Remember > to bring your referral slip and insurance > card on the day of your first visit. Also, bring three papers for the > doctor, preferably typed: > 1. A summary of your complete medical history. Be as concise as > possible. > 2. A complete medication list, to include: current prescription > medications, herbal supplements, vitamins, over-the-counter and topical > medications; allergies and previous adverse > reactions; prior medications and why they didn't work at that time. > 3. A page listing today's concerns, changes since your last visit to a > doctor, medications for which you need refills today, and forms you need > filled out. > Keep your medical history and medication list in the computer. > Update and print them for each doctor visit. > During your exam, be clear about your expectations. Statements such > as, " I need a diagnosis, " or " I need better pain control, " or " I need > help deciding whether to cut back at > work, " tell the physician exactly what you require. At this visit, you > can focus more closely on the cleanliness, privacy, and confidentiality > of the office. Also note the doctor's listening > skills, attention to details and respect for you. Did she handle your > whole case, not just focus on depression as the cause of all your ills? > Did she offer ideas and suggestions? Did she > exit before all your questions were answered? If you are not pleased > with the results of this visit, keep interviewing other doctors until > you are satisfied. > Well, you made it. And it was well worth your effort. You found a > gem of a doctor. Like new shoes, the fit may not be perfect at first. > Adjustments are necessary for you and your > doctor to become a team. Do not give up too easily. Remember, you are > the one who needs to be in control of your health care so, when you run > into problems, do not feel intimidated. > Instead, address concerns frankly with the doctor and work out a > solution together. Before long, you will be recommending your doctor to > other patients. > > > Finding a Doctor on the Web > > These Internet resources allow you to search for a doctor by name, > location or specialty: > > American College of Rheumatology: www.rheumatology.org/directory/geo.asp > > American Medical Association Online Doctor Finder: > www.ama-assn.org/aps/amahg.htm > WebM D: http://www.my.webmd.com > Doctor Directory: http://www.doctordirectory.com > Fibromyalgia Resource Center: http://www.fmsresource.com > Web Guide: http://www.docguide.com > Interactive website: http://www.findadoc.com > > > Printer-friendly version > > ---------- > > Toxic Discovery > Phone: (573) 445-0861 > Toll Free - 1-800-462-9106 > Fax: (573) 445-4700 > www.toxicdiscovery.com > " Informed Consent Begins With Informed Individuals " > _____________ > INTERNET Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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