Whenever I ask the urgicare doctor, the pharmacist or any specialist a general medical question, they tell me,“That’s something you should discuss with your primary care physician.”
As if.
I haven’t had a primary care physician in 20 years. Instead, I had insurance plans that changed every single year, even when I hadn’t changed jobs. At times, my plan forced me to choose a PCP because they would not pay for me to see a specialist without a referral. As I became familiar with plans, deductibles and the medical insurance bureaucracy, I learned to choose plans where I could see a specialist without a referral – thus saving me time, money and hassle.
My experience with PCPs sucked. First, I had to find a PCP who accepted my insurance and was accepting new patients. Then I had to make an initial appointment. These were usually unavailable for several months since all appointments were booked far in advance.
Making an appointment for anything quickly was usually impossible. If I needed something quickly, I’d go to Urgicare or Minute Clinic. On the rare occasions when I visited my PCP for anything other than a routine exam, they would refer me to a specialist anyway!
A few weeks ago I asked my pharmacist (who has done all of my vaccinations for the past 5 years) if she recommended I get an MMR booster. She told me I should discuss it with my PCP.
Gee thanks.
Then yesterday I visited the urgicare because I had something in my eye for a week. While there, I asked the physician the same MMR booster question. Her reply was, “That’s something you should discuss with your primary care physician.”
Thanks for nothing, Doc.
If I didn’t have to wait 6 months and pay $250 for an appointment, I might do that.
“Talk to your PCP” is buck passing. It’s a convenient blow off statement used by someone in the medical community to pass off responsibility while following acceptable norms without helping the patent.
The PCP is supposed to be the “center of the hub” who coordinates can, knows your history and manages your overall healthcare and well being.
In practice, for me, this has not been the case. When I had a PCP, I spent 90% of my visit completing redundant paperwork. Then having the doctor ask me the same, identical H&P information and then watching the doctor slowly type this information into a laptop on a computer stand. There was no coordination of care happening.
I imagine that PCP practices will eventually change as they see their business dry up when frustrated patients like me go elsewhere.
Concierge medical care practices are springing up in high income communities around the US. They recognize their is a market demand for this type of service and affluent individuals who will pay extra for this service.
Eventually, I suspect I’ll be doing this too, if the pricing and ROI make sense to me.
Until then, I’ll rely on Dr. Google and being my own PCP
Follow up the next day:
I ended up getting an MMR vaccine and a pneumonia vaccine today at Walgreens without talking to a PCP.
My last MMR vaccine was either in 1972 when I was a child or in 1986 when I was entering college. I don’t have a record of either. Measles in spreading across the US due to anti-vaxer morons and with current guidelines recommending two MMR vaccinations, I felt this was an appropriate decision.
As for the pneumonia vaccine, the CDC now recommends it for most people over 50. That includes me. I had pneumonia as a child and it truly sucked. If the vaccine helps prevent it, I’m in.
I’m hoping my side effects from both vaccines are minimal.