Medical advise - The Firearms Forum

TranterUK · 03-02-2009, 10:03 AM

How do you get to see a Doctor in the US? Should one just walk into a hospital and say 'I feel ill' or what?

Anyone...

Marlin · 03-02-2009, 10:14 AM

Most places have an "After Hours Clinic" which handles walk-in patients, for a fee, in the evening hours. During the day it would be Emergency Room care at any hospital.

That said, we have found it easy to establish a relationship with a doctor merely by calling his office and asking for an appointment. Depending upon the individual, doctor, that is, they may not want a new patient who does not have medical insurance or who is on Medicare or Medicaid. Medicare is the government coverage for persons over sixty-five and Medicaid for the less fortunate. The Government sets the fees for these two programs and some will refuse to take a patient due to the low rates for the various types of care.

Bottom line is that if you are a paying or insured patient it is easy to access a private physician. I am in my seventies and have had a problem only once about ten years ago. Fortunately, I had other physician access when one moved into a partnership that wouldn't see a Medicare patient. She later moved out of the group into an individual practice and asked me to resume coming to her.

Hope this is clearer than mud.....

Vladimir · 03-02-2009, 10:19 AM

Many cities will have walk-in clinics around. After 20 years of having a private physician I have upgraded to walk-ins. I realized it doesn't really matter if your doctor knows you (he has enough patients he doesn't REALLY know you) so who cares. I'm sure it varies but at our nearest urgent care center I normally wait about an hour max and get to go whenever I want- no appointments!

oldogy · 03-02-2009, 11:05 AM

How do you get to see a Doctor in the US? Should one just walk into a hospital and say 'I feel ill' or what?
x========x===========x============x==========x============x=======x
I have established relationships with my regular doctor and my dermatologist. I get appointments based on the urgency of my request, always timely. My dermatologist told me recently in a joking sort of way after surgery that "pain will get you in very quickly". Any time I need to see a specialist there is no problem. Got to love our health care system, best in the world. Hate to see it a couple years from now when we go to socialized medicine.
oldogy

TranterUK · 03-02-2009, 11:31 AM

Thank you for your replys. Most useful and being actioned as I write. Nothing too serious I hasen to add.

4EvrLearning · 03-02-2009, 12:05 PM

Tranter: You've received great advice, which I won't add to, but wanted to say that the BEST part of the posts so far was your assurance that it's "Nothing too serious..." Very glad to know that!

artabr · 03-02-2009, 12:18 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by TranterUK

Thank you for your replys. Most useful and being actioned as I write. Nothing too serious I hasen to add.

Best wishes, my friend.

Art

Vladimir · 03-02-2009, 12:42 PM

Good thing we speak [somewhat] the same language! I had an old buddy in high school who recently went on a school-type trip to China and was in a hot-air-balloon accident! If I recall correctly he was fine but others were not, the had to get to the hospital and naturally their translator was on a different hot air balloon. Must have been a very frustrating couple hours lol.

TranterUK · 03-02-2009, 01:05 PM

Thanks Art, 4Evr and others. Just that darned daughter again. Shes thousands of miles away in the US but still keeps me busy, and concerned. As it should be.

Vladimir.

Mrs T currently works with the police 'youth offending team' (She is in the hands of the police as I type) but being multi lingual is training to be an interpreter (Much better pay). Should be interesting!

4EvrLearning · 03-02-2009, 01:38 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by TranterUK

Thanks Art, 4Evr and others. Just that darned daughter again. Shes thousands of miles away in the US but still keeps me busy, and concerned. As it should be.

Yes, sirree....parenting knows no time zones or geographic boundaries! A speedy recovery to her, and calm nerves for Mom and Dad!

ckill1 · 03-02-2009, 05:01 PM

Tranter-

sorry to hear about your daughter, hope all's well...that being said, if in a larger city, always try to choose a teaching/university hospital. Better funded, more up-to-date care regimens, better staff/patient ratios. Docs and nurses there are better teachers (a VERY underrated portion of medicine). Only advantage to small town/rural hospitals and clinics is it is easier to develop a personal relationship in a timely manner with your healthcare provider.
If all else fails, find a nurse, any nurse at said facility and ask point-blank...If this was your loved one, which physician would you choose? Best way to get the better docs. I tell people all the time that doctors aren't any different than plumbers, mechanics, or sales clerks...good ones and bad ones. It's the people who treat you(RNs and MDs) that determine how well you do.

Best of luck,
Chris RN, CCRN.

Blackhawk Dave · 03-02-2009, 05:16 PM

There's some places like CareNow, etc that are for-profit local clinics but the prices aren't bad. The one here, you can actually go on-line and fill out the registration, and set up an appointment, so you don't have to wait. Most major cities have public clinics at the public hospitals...but expect a 10 hour wait or so.

03-02-2009, 10:03 AM	#1
TranterUK Advanced Senior Member Join Date: May 2008 Location: Cambridge UK Posts: 5,103	Medical advise How do you get to see a Doctor in the US? Should one just walk into a hospital and say 'I feel ill' or what? Anyone... __________________ DVC - Diligentia, Vis, Celeritas - Accuracy, Power, Speed. The light at the end of the recession tunnel IS a train coming the other way! -->

03-02-2009, 10:14 AM	#2
Marlin TFF Admin Staff Chief Counselor Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: At SouthernMoss' side forever! Contributor Posts: 13,853	Re: Medical advise Most places have an "After Hours Clinic" which handles walk-in patients, for a fee, in the evening hours. During the day it would be Emergency Room care at any hospital. That said, we have found it easy to establish a relationship with a doctor merely by calling his office and asking for an appointment. Depending upon the individual, doctor, that is, they may not want a new patient who does not have medical insurance or who is on Medicare or Medicaid. Medicare is the government coverage for persons over sixty-five and Medicaid for the less fortunate. The Government sets the fees for these two programs and some will refuse to take a patient due to the low rates for the various types of care. Bottom line is that if you are a paying or insured patient it is easy to access a private physician. I am in my seventies and have had a problem only once about ten years ago. Fortunately, I had other physician access when one moved into a partnership that wouldn't see a Medicare patient. She later moved out of the group into an individual practice and asked me to resume coming to her. Hope this is clearer than mud..... __________________ *The flag represents a living country and is itself considered a living thing.* *The only criminal class native to the United States is Congress.*

03-02-2009, 10:19 AM	#3
Vladimir Advanced Senior Member Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: Issaquah WA Posts: 3,558	Re: Medical advise Many cities will have walk-in clinics around. After 20 years of having a private physician I have upgraded to walk-ins. I realized it doesn't really matter if your doctor knows you (he has enough patients he doesn't REALLY know you) so who cares. I'm sure it varies but at our nearest urgent care center I normally wait about an hour max and get to go whenever I want- no appointments! __________________ -JVRR меня зовут Владимир или Джеймс. Я знаю только немного русский язык (я американец, но мой пра дедушка русски). STEAM (CSS, TF2, etc): Ask me! Xbox LIVE! GT: "Vlad is Rad" PS3 PSN: "Vlad_Is_Rad"

03-02-2009, 11:05 AM	#4
oldogy V.I.P. Member Join Date: Jan 2009 Location: East TN Posts: 309	Re: Medical advise How do you get to see a Doctor in the US? Should one just walk into a hospital and say 'I feel ill' or what? x========x===========x============x==========x============x=======x I have established relationships with my regular doctor and my dermatologist. I get appointments based on the urgency of my request, always timely. My dermatologist told me recently in a joking sort of way after surgery that "pain will get you in very quickly". Any time I need to see a specialist there is no problem. Got to love our health care system, best in the world. Hate to see it a couple years from now when we go to socialized medicine. oldogy __________________ ue"]If gun laws in fact worked, the sponsors of this type of legislation should have no difficulty drawing upon long lists of examples of crime rates reduced by such legislation. That they cannot do so after a century and a half of trying -- " Senator Orrin G. Hatch (R-Utah)[/COLOR] Last edited by oldogy; 03-02-2009 at 11:09 AM..

03-02-2009, 11:31 AM	#5
TranterUK Advanced Senior Member Join Date: May 2008 Location: Cambridge UK Posts: 5,103	Re: Medical advise Thank you for your replys. Most useful and being actioned as I write. Nothing too serious I hasen to add. __________________ DVC - Diligentia, Vis, Celeritas - Accuracy, Power, Speed. The light at the end of the recession tunnel IS a train coming the other way!

03-02-2009, 12:05 PM	#6
4EvrLearning Advanced Senior Member Join Date: Feb 2009 Location: Left Coast Posts: 1,449	Re: Medical advise Tranter: You've received great advice, which I won't add to, but wanted to say that the BEST part of the posts so far was your assurance that it's "Nothing too serious..." Very glad to know that! __________________ *"Until God is finished with me, I am immortal." Jonathan Edwards, American Theologian (1703-1758)*

03-02-2009, 12:42 PM	#8
Vladimir Advanced Senior Member Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: Issaquah WA Posts: 3,558	Re: Medical advise Good thing we speak [somewhat] the same language! I had an old buddy in high school who recently went on a school-type trip to China and was in a hot-air-balloon accident! If I recall correctly he was fine but others were not, the had to get to the hospital and naturally their translator was on a different hot air balloon. Must have been a very frustrating couple hours lol. __________________ -JVRR меня зовут Владимир или Джеймс. Я знаю только немного русский язык (я американец, но мой пра дедушка русски). STEAM (CSS, TF2, etc): Ask me! Xbox LIVE! GT: "Vlad is Rad" PS3 PSN: "Vlad_Is_Rad"

03-02-2009, 01:05 PM	#9
TranterUK Advanced Senior Member Join Date: May 2008 Location: Cambridge UK Posts: 5,103	Re: Medical advise Thanks Art, 4Evr and others. Just that darned daughter again. Shes thousands of miles away in the US but still keeps me busy, and concerned. As it should be. Vladimir. Mrs T currently works with the police 'youth offending team' (She is in the hands of the police as I type) but being multi lingual is training to be an interpreter (Much better pay). Should be interesting! __________________ DVC - Diligentia, Vis, Celeritas - Accuracy, Power, Speed. The light at the end of the recession tunnel IS a train coming the other way!

03-02-2009, 05:01 PM	#11
ckill1 V.I.P. Member Join Date: Dec 2007 Location: SW Iowa Posts: 299	Re: Medical advise Tranter- sorry to hear about your daughter, hope all's well...that being said, if in a larger city, always try to choose a teaching/university hospital. Better funded, more up-to-date care regimens, better staff/patient ratios. Docs and nurses there are better teachers (a VERY underrated portion of medicine). Only advantage to small town/rural hospitals and clinics is it is easier to develop a personal relationship in a timely manner with your healthcare provider. If all else fails, find a nurse, any nurse at said facility and ask point-blank...If this was your loved one, which physician would you choose? Best way to get the better docs. I tell people all the time that doctors aren't any different than plumbers, mechanics, or sales clerks...good ones and bad ones. It's the people who treat you(RNs and MDs) that determine how well you do. Best of luck, Chris RN, CCRN. __________________ People sleep peaceably in their beds at night only because rough men stand ready to do violence on their behalf.

03-02-2009, 05:16 PM	#12
Blackhawk Dave Senior Member Join Date: Nov 2008 Location: Denton, TX Posts: 593	Re: Medical advise There's some places like CareNow, etc that are for-profit local clinics but the prices aren't bad. The one here, you can actually go on-line and fill out the registration, and set up an appointment, so you don't have to wait. Most major cities have public clinics at the public hospitals...but expect a 10 hour wait or so.