Doctor shortage in Charlotte --- Wish someone had told me before I moved here

[XNYgirl]

This was my experience 8 years ago and still in some cases today. There just are not enough doctors in ratio to the patients. Most specialist are a long wait orthopedics and dermotlogists. Gi's have long waits too. I had the cripple oF an HMO so I could only see doctors in that network.

However, once I got set up and waited these times out, I got great care. I personally drove to Concord to see the North East Digestive Center because they were good at what they do. Sadly, there are a lack of specialists. I do know that when you go to a certain "business' they try to keep them inside thier network, like if you went to CMC emergency room or urgent care they will refer you within their network and that's perfectly fine.

I saw an ER doc in Jan and was told to see a GI doc. This was all well and good however, they wanted me to wait until MAY for treatment because that was the soonest they could get me in for GI testing. There was no way I Was waiting, knowing I had a stomach problem.

Good Luck.

[brokensky]

Originally Posted by Burgandy

Ani - What gave me away ?

I find it very frusturating to find quality doctors in this area (even with my background).

I think your husband should do an article on navigating the health care arena in Charlotte! I believe it would help a ton of people.

The way you write . . .it was a give-away, LOL.

Well, the article would be for a peer review journal and would be about access and patient satisfaction . . . so would not really be for laymen. However, I think your idea about something local would be very interesting. That would be my area but finding someone to print it . . . that would be the problem. Hospitals (and physician practices) spend too much in advertising dollars for anyone local to pay me as a freelancer to do that article, LOL. Now, a PUFF PIECE . . . maybe that would get printed.

A blog . . . that is about the only way to get this kind of info to the public these days. Or possibly a nursing magazine. Nurses see it all . . . and IMHO, are the "watchdogs" of the industry, even tho it has been my experience that nurses have no real voice in the industry. Why? They are not generating revenue. Yet, nurses are the frontline w/ patient satisfaction.

Ugh. I won't even get on this soapbox. Too frustrating!!!!

Again . . . let me just state . . . there is no shortage of doctors here. Indeed, there is no shortage of specialists here. Yes, you may have to drive 15 miles for a referral . . . but consider WHY you are being referred to a particular doc . . . Sometimes it is b/c of one's insurance and what docs are w/in the panel . . . and sometimes a referral is made b/c docs are friends . . . or have established a good referral pattern w/ one another . . .

We won't even get into how insurance companies reward docs (and punish them) depending on their referral patterns, what diagnostic tests they order, etc.

[Damemeow]

Hi! I was the OP and I am surprised this thread is still going... :-)

As an update, I took Ani's advice and established myself with a primary doctor who I think I like, and it has alleviated much of the difficulty I was experiencing. Thanks!

[brokensky]

Originally Posted by Damemeow

Hi! I was the OP and I am surprised this thread is still going... :-)

As an update, I took Ani's advice and established myself with a primary doctor who I think I like, and it has alleviated much of the difficulty I was experiencing. Thanks!

I am soooo glad you came back and gave us an update! I surely hope this is going to make it easier for you to deal w/ your healthcare needs. Thank you so much for updating us.

I hope things will be less stressful from here out . . . when we are having health problems, the last thing we need is a hassle about appointments!!!