Healthcare in Delaware (Wilmington, Dover: transfer, deductible, cost)

[rdlr]

Originally Posted by kat196

I have kept the same doctor I had for over 20 years in PA but my husband switched when we moved here 5 years ago to a doctor in Middletown. He sees him for yearly exams and until now hasn't needed him for any medical issues. A few weeks ago he woke up feeling awful and as the day went on felt worse. He called the doctor in the late morning and the receptionist basically said sorry, the doctor was too busy. If you're that sick go to the emergency room. We couldn't believe it ---- not once in over 20 years in PA, including pediatricians for our three kids, have we ever had a doctor say he wouldn't see us if we were sick and wanted to be seen. We did go to the urgent care center (he had pneumonia) but he's looking for another doctor. I think I'll continue to drive 2 hours when I need to see mine.....he's such a gem.
Kathy

Don't blame you one bit, Kat!!

[movn2del]

Originally Posted by maryCh

Wow! What a hot topic! Finally catching up on my reading... some. Our family went to the same practice elizamary went to last fall; we aren't too happy with them either. Hubby refers to the current family doc here in Dover as "the witch doctor"! The straw that broke this camel's back was when the doc told hubby that he (doc) was the gatekeeper to hubby's health... uh, excuse me?????

We too are shopping around, when I get a moment to make calls. Our dilemna is rooted in the out of state insurance... any suggestions there? I just checked the plan website, and there are no doctors listed in the "greater" Dover area. Please tell me we are not stuck going to the witch doctor!!

Mary

Hi Mary I too am going to have the out-of-State insurance issue. I spoke with the insurance company. They told me to file for out of network, when I find a Dr. I like. They also have no participating providers in DE. Once I find a Dr. I like, I can then ask them to become a participating provider. I don't know how that is going to work. We will see. I do know that I will have to layout the $ until I get someone to join the network. Hopefully I will find good Dr.s that will participate and it won't take forever to happen.

[maryCh]

I've gotten a few referrals, both for family physicians and pediatricians (with the kids 11 & 13, we can go either way with them). So far, I haven't been able to get in the door to discuss the insurance issue. I guess with so many people moving to this area, doctor's offices are tapped with the new patient influx, which makes perfect sense.

Delly, I have it on my list to call the few you mentioned, just been too busy wrapping up school, etc. to make the calls. And movn2del, will let you know if I get any bites, you may need to call right behind me to get in the door!

Mary

[Charley]

Originally Posted by rdlr

Hope you're feeling better soon, Charley!

Thanks Delly. I appreciate your kind thoughts.

Charley

[Summering]

Originally Posted by kat196

I have kept the same doctor I had for over 20 years in PA but my husband switched when we moved here 5 years ago to a doctor in Middletown. He sees him for yearly exams and until now hasn't needed him for any medical issues. A few weeks ago he woke up feeling awful and as the day went on felt worse. He called the doctor in the late morning and the receptionist basically said sorry, the doctor was too busy. If you're that sick go to the emergency room. We couldn't believe it ---- not once in over 20 years in PA, including pediatricians for our three kids, have we ever had a doctor say he wouldn't see us if we were sick and wanted to be seen. We did go to the urgent care center (he had pneumonia) but he's looking for another doctor. I think I'll continue to drive 2 hours when I need to see mine.....he's such a gem.
Kathy

Wow, the same thing happened to me when I had pneumonia this winter in SC. The doctors who took our insurance ..........the receptionist said.......
Ah " we might have something next week"........" ah, maybe next Thursday"
No matter that I said " I think I have pneumonia"......another doctor took me within an hour and YES I had double pneumonia that lingered for almost two months! It just wasn't good that an office can turn you away when you tell them that this is not just a cold, or the flu.....but an emergency visit.
Its not just DE that has the problem, its certain offices for sure.

[elizamary]

Originally Posted by kat196

I have kept the same doctor I had for over 20 years in PA but my husband switched when we moved here 5 years ago to a doctor in Middletown. He sees him for yearly exams and until now hasn't needed him for any medical issues. A few weeks ago he woke up feeling awful and as the day went on felt worse. He called the doctor in the late morning and the receptionist basically said sorry, the doctor was too busy. If you're that sick go to the emergency room. We couldn't believe it ---- not once in over 20 years in PA, including pediatricians for our three kids, have we ever had a doctor say he wouldn't see us if we were sick and wanted to be seen. We did go to the urgent care center (he had pneumonia) but he's looking for another doctor. I think I'll continue to drive 2 hours when I need to see mine.....he's such a gem.
Kathy

Hi Kat
Reminds me of an experience I had 20 years ago in PA. to make a long story short, I had been very sick for a week. my physician put me on antitiotic but I was not getting better. High fever persisited so I went back and he changed my meds. I asked him if he thought I had pneumonia and he ask me if I thought I did? Now who is the doctor here??? He said lets try the new meds and see what happens. 3 days later my husband had to run me to emergency because I was unable to breath. they admitted me for 12 days and I was very sick. Because I was young they assured me it would be okay. I never remember being so sick in all my life.
When you find a good doctor.....hang on to him or her.

[kat196]

"When you find a good doctor.....hang on to him or her"

Elizamary, you said a mouthful there.....hit the nail on the head

Kathy

[elizamary]

Originally Posted by kat196

"When you find a good doctor.....hang on to him or her"

Elizamary, you said a mouthful there.....hit the nail on the head

Kathy

Thanks Kat and I think the same goes for a hairdresser.

[Laural]

The front desk holds the power and makes most of the decisions on who gets to be seen by the doctor, most times the doctor isn't even aware what's going on. One example my mom had an appt went to her appt on time, and was turned away, the front desk told her she had the wrong day and she argued with the girl but apparently the computer is never wrong *gag*and the girl was very snotty about it. When she got home she found her appt card and and faxed it directly to the doctor, with a note on how she didn't appreciated being inconvienced like that and didn't appreciate the attitude of the girl. The doctor called her personally an apologized, and they managed to "fit" her in the next day and the girl who told her she came on the wrong day apologized profusely, and they treated her like a queen apologizing all over the place. We think once the doctor found out heads rolled. So if you have a problem ask to speak to the doctor. On that note, my doctor actually told me once, that doctors always worry about their front desk people and the decisions or advice they give can kill people! Yikes! That completely opened my eyes on how things are ran at a doctors office!

[from PA]

Originally Posted by Laural

The front desk holds the power and makes most of the decisions on who gets to be seen by the doctor, most times the doctor isn't even aware what's going on. So if you have a problem ask to speak to the doctor. On that note, my doctor actually told me once, that doctors always worry about their front desk people and the decisions or advice they give can kill people! Yikes! That completely opened my eyes on how things are ran at a doctors office!

Thanks for sharing this Laural. This is extremely useful information and is advise well taken.