Haven’t you’ve learned by now, “You are the caregiver of your wellness.” I would hope you have! There’s no one who could care more about your wellness than you. With 2022 vastly approaching, don’t allow a primary care physician (PCP) or staff member to dismiss who you are. Is it that time for you to make a change?
For me, thinking it’s that time! I’ve weighed the options and discovered reasons for switching. Well, these can be some of those annoying situations:
Location:
− Moving to a new city, can be a precise reason
− Consider the factor of convenience
− No one should have to travel an hour or so to receive service
− Offers ease of use if having in-person scheduling
Availability is important:
If the doctor is overloaded with patients, you’re having to schedule months away. The patient’s time is as important as the doctor’s time schedule.
− When arriving (on time), don’t leave the patient sitting for another hour before calling him/her to the back. And once inside the room, he/she waits for another 20 to 30 minutes before being seen.
Doctor to Patient Relationship
– Doctor drops insurance plans
– Patient changes insurance carrier or plan
− Initially, having a good relationship with the doctor one soar incident can dent the relationship
− Doctor tells you to listen to them
− Doctor doesn’t listen to what you have to say
− Doctor doesn’t apologize for the extremely long wait time (to be seen)
− Built-in cost factors are extremely high
− And the list goes on
Office staff to Patient Relationship
− Lacks taking charge of technical aspects of care
− Doesn’t extend a warm or a friendly greeting
− When calling, keeps you on hold way too long
− Doesn’t apologize for the long hold time
− Staff addresses insurance issues with a lack of concern
− Staff takes messages and doesn’t deliver them appropriately
− Staff presents improper billing codes to the insurance carrier(s)
which causes the claim to be rejected
− The patient leaves a message for a callback, but never receives it (e.g., doctor, scheduling, or insurance rep)
− A good doctor with a poor staff makes for a poor experience
Note: It’s important to have a primary care provider (PCP) that satisfies your standards, your needs and nurtures the relationship for years to come. Yes, you are the caregiver of your wellness. So, respect yourself, forgive yourself, accept yourself, and above all Love Yourself the most!
Face Cover image courtesy of Natalie Grainger / Inside image courtesy of Deniz Altindas
