How to find the best Doctor

[alldodge]

Don't post any NAMES
Question is for any Med professional but currently looking for Dermatologist.

Previous Derm DR in Louisville we thought was great. Reason to leave him because we live 2.5 hours away. He found a couple spots on me and said they were beginning of Basal Cell but nothing needed to be done but just watch

Find one local and all good for first. Later I have a spot which does not heal and APRN in office said it was nothing. Next year I want it tested and she reluctantly takes a biopsy and it turns out to be Basal cell. Then says I must do Mohs surgery to remove.

Ok do Mohs and get it first time.

We change from the APRN in the office to the main Doctor. Another couple years and there is another spot close by same area. I'm concerned but Dr is not. I insist in biopsy and it to turns out to be Basal cell, so again more Mohs surgery.

Current wife has had Eczema on both ankles and one is get bad. Our local General Med APRN puts her on 10 days of antibiotics and she is going back in on Thursday.

So ok, in short first Dr said Basal Cell can wait, and next 2 (Aprn and Dr) says it cannot wait, but they also did not want to biopsy anything.

How can anyone find a good doctor, the web is no help??

 

[Scott Danforth]

Not sure how to find a good doc myself. Current GP is ok-ish..... I see two different derms.... neither impressed me. Dad used to say, 50% of the doctors graduated in the bottom of their class

 

[tphoyt]

It’s tough out for sure. I most often go by word of mouth. On the up side Im only a couple hours away from Boston Ma where we have some of best Dr in the world but it’s still not easy.
Start asking around and see what names pop up the most.
Best of luck.

 

[dingbat]

Went through this when my wife was diagnosed with neuropathy.

Don't look for a general dermatology practitioner. Narrow your search to doctors that specialize in skin cancers.

We are fortunate that we live 35 minutes from John’s Hopkins Hospital in Baltimore. Ended up with one of the top neuropathy doctors in the country

 

[DeepCMark58A]

Good luck getting an appointment.

 

[JASinIL2006]

If I had a specialist that I liked and trusted, I'd just drive the 2.5 hours to see them. Especially if we're dealing with the 'C' word....

 

[racerone]

Many medical types are interested in the money they can make.-----Some know that insurance pays for everything.------Kaching , Kaching is the key word

 

[alldodge]

The pic is prior to taking antibiotics and some swelling went done but not a lot.

A fried who swears by essential oils gave her a spray bottle with Claraderm which is a mix of several oils. One spray and it started to burn a bit, Wife left it on maybe 1/2 hour and washed it off because her leg started turning red like a sun burn, This morning she has red spots all over like a rash but it doesn't itch. We see the Aprn tomorrow morning

 

[DeepCMark58A]

I was diagnosed in January with high iron levels, scanned have stage 4 liver disease. I still have 2 more tests to do, they have done nothing to treat my high iron levels (it makes you feel awful) just more tests. Good thing it isn't cancer it would have spread before they ever got around to treatment.

 

[alldodge]

I was diagnosed in January with high iron levels, scanned have stage 4 liver disease. I still have 2 more tests to do, they have done nothing to treat my high iron levels (it makes you feel awful) just more tests. Good thing it isn't cancer it would have spread before they ever got around to treatment.

Have a neighbor with high iron and he has blood removed every so often to lower the level

 

[airshot]

Finding a good doctor is a problem for everyone, everywhere and will only be getting worse as time goes on. Asking around and check with your health insurance provider to be sure a doc is covered under your insurance. Medical school is way to expensive for students, and malpractice ins is also way to expensive for doctors. Not many new docs getting into the field anymore. Good luck !

 

[FLATHEAD]

It’s tough for sure, and now you have the whole “nurse practitioner” thing. Never know when you go in if you’ll be seeing one of those. You and insurance pay the same amount to a person that isn’t really a doctor. Quality health care is becoming pretty tough to find.

 

[DeepCMark58A]

Have a neighbor with high iron and he has blood removed every so often to lower the level

We are not even to that point yet, I did research on what supplements cause iron deficiency and started taking zinc.

 

[aspeck]

Only way I know to find a good doctor is to ask around. Check with trusted friends who won’t blow smoke who they like and dislike and why. Every doctor and hospital has a horror story, it is the nature of the field, but ask questions about what, when, and why. That is the only way I know.

 

[redneck joe]

Tell the doctor do it, don't ask. You have a history. That he didn't the first time is strike one if he does again it is strike three. Your doc works for you.

As far as finding one.... Google reviews, ask friends or GP but you may have to go thru a few, I have with perio and podiatrist.


With a history no insurance won't deny a biopsy over a more expensive surgery. Mom died at 59, I'm 58 and just got full heart and vein look over approved after I told my GP I wanted it, so he ordered with a two word note of 'family history'