Better health

By TL

December 8, 2008 11:04 AM | Link to this

Yes. Last year. I changed two physicians primarily because of their attitude. In one case, my experience with the physician’s process for performing a procedure left me feeling like something on an assemblyline - the experience was mechanical and totally dehumanizing.

This was in stark contrast to other physicians I have had. I dropped the two “bad performers” and found others to replace them.

By Teresa

December 8, 2008 12:05 PM | Link to this

Emory Adventist on South Cobb Drive…Most doctors have bad bed side manners. They rush you during visit after you’ve waited damn near 45 minutes, and then they use the excuse they are short staff or really busy…gimmie a break, it’s that way everytime!!!!!!

By Beverly

December 8, 2008 12:43 PM | Link to this

The family physican, podiatrist and orthopaedist i use all have excellent bedside manners.

By paul

December 8, 2008 12:53 PM | Link to this

I have found that many of the doctors in Atlanta are from India. Although their medical care is fine, their bedside manner typically leaves much to be desired. I’m not making a racial comment, this is just what I’ve observed over the past 10 years. Indian doctors typically spend less time with you and generally don’t like to answer questions. They do things “by the book” and don’t seem to care as much about my concerns or my perception of the treatment.

By 4williiec

December 8, 2008 1:08 PM | Link to this

Doctors today tend not to really listen to you, and most often they tend to discount you as integral to the wellness process. I look for Osteopaths (DO) versus MD’s whenever possible. Doctors are often too caught up in lab standards and AMA guidelines and forget about considering your symptoms and history. Apparently, Dr. Welby is indeed deceased.

By Last American

December 8, 2008 1:53 PM | Link to this

I agree with the above comments. We have become like cattle - the more they can get in in a hour - the more money they make. Most of the time I don’t think they are even listening to you. Also, be aware - are you seeing the doctor or the doctor’s assistant. Yes, most of them are Indian - where are the American doctors. Bedside Manner would make the doctor lose money - it’s a thing of the past. How sad

By Last American

December 8, 2008 2:01 PM | Link to this

I forgot to mention. Yes, I did change my physician. While I was still talking to him - he got up and walked out of the room and never came back - neither did I.

By slim

December 8, 2008 2:02 PM | Link to this

My wife’s a Dr, so I’ve come to learn a bit about the profession. Probably not as many Dr’s go into primary care as they used to. Insurance companies now reimburse so little for many things that they have to see a huge number of patients and can’t spend a lot of time with each.

If you want lots of time with the dr, you should join a botique practice, where you’ll pay around 1,500 per year to have a doctor at your beck and call.

But the typical primary care doctor HAS to see many patients to make a decent living, and they typically are at the lower end of salary spectrum for doctors (maybe around 130-160 give or take).

Nor do they have time to visit patients in the hospital. Hospitals now have their own doctors (hospitalists) to treat the patients admitted to the hospital.

It’s all more specialized than it used to be, and the reimbursements are not that high.

By RealityKing

December 8, 2008 2:12 PM | Link to this

Like switching physicians at your disgression!? Say no to Nationalized Healthcare..

By Grammaw

December 8, 2008 3:10 PM | Link to this

Definitely! I have changed doctors “in mid-stream” simply because of the way I was treated…like a fee instead of a person…and I have TOLD them why I was leaving…stressing the point that bedside manner is as important as treating what ails me. I have since found the most wonderful doctor, and believe it or not, he is in a low-income clinic that is constantly busy. I’d rather be a walk-in and wait 4 hours to see him than have an appt. with a well-known doctor who doesn’t have the time or patience for me. I found a “rate your doctor” site, and have let those that treated me less than a human have it right in the wallet! We should mean a lot more than just another paycheck. You took an oath…uphold it, or you will be up the creek without a patient!

By lovelyliz

December 8, 2008 3:29 PM | Link to this

During a physical, my doctor (DO) asked me about the prescriotions I was taking. I told her I had stopped with 2 of the 3 because I couldn’t afford them. She expresses some sympathy and proceeded to to not only renew those prescriptions, but to right me another one.

I’ve thought about changing doctors, but with so many general practitioners in the same boat and with the whole staying in network thing, going elsewhere doesn’t look likely to make anything better.

By Texas Pete

December 8, 2008 4:46 PM | Link to this

I had to find a new doctor a while back. During a hospital stay last year, my Doc would come into the room and give me a shot. Hours later I would wake up with a sore @ss.

By Rebecca

December 8, 2008 4:53 PM | Link to this

My primary care physician is at API Medical in Lilburn, GA. She is one of the most incredible doctors that I have ever met. Her bedside manner should be noted in the text books. She’s young, compassionate, brilliant and board certified.

Dr. BJ will often provide me with a sample of a medication vs writing an expensive prescription if she has one available. She will also offer coupons for savings on prescriptions that may not be covered under our insurance when she can. But more importantly, she listens and ask questions. She is caring and patient, and I love having her as my physician. My family members and I all know once we leave her office we have been treated by the best, and she is genuinely concerned about our well-being.

If she finds and illness or problem she can not handle she has an equally experienced network of physicians that she will refer you to. In my experiences, they too have wonderful bedside manners. She is a good 30-45 minute drive from our Roswell neighborhood, but she worth it, and she is not a “boutique doctor.”