IF Orthodontists and Martial Arts?? (Boise, Idaho Falls: relocating, insurance, work)

[norcalmom101]

Any positive referrals for Orthodontists in IF? We are relocating from SF area with access to UCSF and its wonderful low cost high quality Pediatric Clinics...

Also any input on Martial Arts schools, esp. Kung Fu (7 Star Praying Mantis, ideally!) Thank you

[cleosmom]

Yikes, afraid I'm not a ton of help to you on this. Since we don't have kids, I'm a tad clueless.

[Mtn. States Resident]

It may depend on what dental insurance you have. Not all orthodontists, oral surgeons, endos and peris participate with every insurance. If you know how those in your family will be covered (which insurance) or can find out, then you can narrow down your choices by which providers are covered.

UCSF - Stanford, as indeed the two universities did join their medical clinics/care, to financially remain viable tend to provide a very high standard care, and train world-class physicians. Some departments are stronger than others. Most primary care clinics are well-designed and placed in metro areas to serve both the majority of local residents and the housestaff completing their ambulatory requirements in primary care. However, there are trade offs in everything. The network of primary care clinics in urban centers wouldn't exist without residents providing the majority of care, and having an attending to consult.

The Stanford Facility, Lucille Packard Children's Hospital ranked # 10 in U.S. News and World Report's 2007 hospital rankings. (Also in the west were Children's Hospital, Denver #4, Texas Children's (Houston) #6 and Children's Hospital and Regional Medical Center (Seattle) #9.

The closest children's hospitals and programs are in Salt Lake City at Primary Children's Medical Center -providing routine pediatric outreach clinics ONLY in the Wasatch metro area, Shriner's Hospital in SLC, which offers wonderful care to children in the Intermountain West who qualify for the specialties they offer. Shriner's is not a full-service children's hospital. Also, St. Luke's Children's Hospital, located within St. Luke's Hospital in Boise is a growing children's program. No residents and not all specialties, but adding additional services/specialists yearly.

As you know at major university medical centers neighborhood clinics, patients are often cared for by residents or fellows, with an attending supervising from the shadows. I've seen excellent pediatric care delivered this way, and some that wasn't so great. It depends on the program and the individual physicians involved. Also, residents and assignments change at least every two years, if not more. So unless you're children have somehow managed to see the attending at a neighborhood clinic over the years, you know what I mean.

You won't find these types of outpatient clinics in Idaho. I've never seen any university setting establish pediatric clinics, like you mentioned, except in large cities. Pediatric residents from other states rotate through private practices in Idaho, but no pediatric residency is in place. It takes a high enough volume of patients to have a full training program, with all the peds subspecialties available. Idaho currently doesn't have the numbers to justify a pediatric residency yet.

Additionally, having dental services available where medical services are available truly are limited to major urban settings, in my experience. Others may know of different models elsewhere, but it's really of no benefit to you, IMHO, if you will be in the Shelley area and pilot programs are in OH, PA, FL etc.

If you are wondering about sliding fee scale clinics, or teaching clinics, there are some in Idaho. But they are, at this time, limited only to Family Practice. There is a clinic in Idaho Falls staffed with an FP and many mid-levels (NP/PAs) who works on a sliding fee scale.

So it depends again on what insurance your kids will be covered by, whether you want to see a pediatrician or FP (are your kids healthy overall?), and whether or not you will need to be seen at an office that works on a sliding fee scale.

Medical care in the Idaho Falls area often has many of the high tech components of medical care found in major urban areas, especially for ADULTS. However, the model of care delivery, is private practice mostly, not university or large hospital facility clinics.

It will be an entirely different experience finding medical practitioners you want to provide health care for your family, living in Idaho, than in the Bay area. I'd ask your current health care providers, including orthodontists, whom they would recommend in the Idaho Falls area. Always best to start with either which practitioners are covered by your insurance coverage, and/or ask current providers to make a referral as current providers know specific needs.

I hope this helps you start to get adjusted to Idaho's private practice setting.

MSR