lmt03367 - It can be challenging finding a good cardiologist in an area that has a large elderly population and therefore many Medicare patients. The economics of reimbursement for patient care tend to lead to shorter visits and less time with patients. One solution that may help is to seek care from a cardiologist and cardiac team associated with a university and teaching hospital. Tampa General is the primary teaching affiliate of the University of South Florida. USF has a cardiology program, and you can find more about it here: http://health.usf.edu/nocms/myhealthcare/
Also, I want to suggest support groups again. Are you in any support groups where you can talk with other patients? Often patients are the best possible resources in understanding a condition in lay language and in getting candid opinions about local doctors.
I also want to suggest again that you try working with your family doctor to get the information and coordinated care you need and deserve. I say that from personal experience as I have cancer and many medical needs. I was very frustrated until I attended a cancer survivorship workshop in which they discussed the way specialists spend little time with patients, and a patient on the panel described how he worked with his primary care physician to get more "face time" with a doctor, more information and get a better handle on what he needed to know to be able to better manage his medical condition. Most insurance plans will support multiple visits with your primary care physician while limiting those with specialists. I found that by staying on top of my concerns, and balancing my questions and needs between my personal doctor and my oncologist, I have gotten far better care, more information, more time with my doctors and much more peace of mind.
I'd love to see you have more peace of mind too.
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lmt03367 - It can be challenging finding a good cardiologist in an area that has a large elderly population and therefore many Medicare patients. The economics of reimbursement for patient care tend to lead to shorter visits and less time with patients. One solution that may help is to seek care from a cardiologist and cardiac team associated with a university and teaching hospital. Tampa General is the primary teaching affiliate of the University of South Florida. USF has a cardiology program, and you can find more about it here: http://health.usf.edu/nocms/myhealthcare/
Also, I want to suggest support groups again. Are you in any support groups where you can talk with other patients? Often patients are the best possible resources in understanding a condition in lay language and in getting candid opinions about local doctors.
I also want to suggest again that you try working with your family doctor to get the information and coordinated care you need and deserve. I say that from personal experience as I have cancer and many medical needs. I was very frustrated until I attended a cancer survivorship workshop in which they discussed the way specialists spend little time with patients, and a patient on the panel described how he worked with his primary care physician to get more "face time" with a doctor, more information and get a better handle on what he needed to know to be able to better manage his medical condition. Most insurance plans will support multiple visits with your primary care physician while limiting those with specialists. I found that by staying on top of my concerns, and balancing my questions and needs between my personal doctor and my oncologist, I have gotten far better care, more information, more time with my doctors and much more peace of mind.
I'd love to see you have more peace of mind too.
Take care,
September 30, 2010 - 5:36pmPat
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