Generic Retiree Medical Question

[OldAgePensioner]

If you moved to Pocatella, Idaho today. And you needed continuing medical treatment for cancer, heart disease and arthritis.

How would you go about setting up a medical team?

1. Would you go to some Clinic that has all these specialties?
2. Would you call individual doctors and get appointments?
3. Would you get a General Practice doctor and have them find specialists?
4. Would you go to a Hospital?

I'm curious because I picked my own specialist and everyone in the loop seemed a bit curious as to how I managed to get around their system, so to speak.

[wabmester]

I would probably move to a penthouse in SF and party hard. Thanks for documenting your adventures, OAP. I appreciate the candor and insight.

So, what is the system, and how did you get around the system? Is the working model that you need a referral?

[uncledrz]

If I were in that situation I would find an internist first, and then go though that office to get to the specialists. The reason is to have an overall management, someone who is looking at the overall problem, rather than each specialist. Where I live I know the docs and specialists (or at least some) but I would still go through my internist who I know and trust. He would keep track on medicines and treatments to make sure that there is no conflict, and give a second opinion or at least a sounding board on proposed treatments. So for that reason I would go through the internist.

[Outtahere]

Maybe you did it the right way, have the specialist recommend an internist, that way you know it's someone the specialist knows and trust.

[Rich_in_Tampa]

Originally Posted by Outtahere

Maybe you did it the right way, have the specialist recommend an internist, that way you know it's someone the specialist knows and trust.

Tip: the nurses in the local ED know who the good internists are. Call 'em on a slow night and ask as if you were new in town.

[OldAgePensioner]

Rich,
What's a local ED?* And I did get the tip on this cardiologist from the nurses.* I mentioned at St. Francis Hospital that I was going to UCSF and an older nurse said this doctor was great.* I called and could not get in to see him ubtil August but his assistant said "keep calling we may get a cancellation".* Bingo.

Outtahere,
I believe that may have been a good move.* I've ask him via email to recommend an internist.* And he most likely knows who the good ones are via comments from patients referred to him.

Wab,
the view from my 41st floor is like good therapy.* I have the TransAmerica pyramid as the middle of my 16ft of floor to ceiling window (both living room and bedroom).
And if I posted what happens to me during my daily 4-5 hours out on the streets of SF, this site would be banned.* SF is a kinky, kinky place and I'm about as liberal/kinky as they come.* Some of the encounters I've had are down right bizarre.*

Wab, ooops forgot to answer your question. The kinky stuff gets me sidetracked.

Yes, this cardiolgist expected to see a physician's name as a referral and even the nurse asked who sent me to Dr. Ports. When I said my cardiolgist in Chicago told me to select a interventional radiologist at UCSF, they asked who he was and why he suggested them. It was as if - nobody gets in here unless they have a referral.

[Rich_in_Tampa]

Originally Posted by OldAgePensioner

What's a local ED?

Sorry. Emergency Department.