Sooo who do you get care from?

[thingerser]

2nd year med student here. I've decided that it's time to find a primary care physician in my current location rather than sticking with the one in my hometown a thousand miles away. Where do y'all get your care from?

I'm fortunate enough to be in a decently large city with plenty of options, but of course my institution is the most convenient. I'm going to be talking about some (pretty darn) sensitive issues with whoever I choose, so I'm a worried about ending up with someone who will be my superior some day. And even with all of the laws protecting privacy, I feel a bit.. odd.. about my information being in their EMR system. Is it recommended that I find a physician elsewhere, or am I just being paranoid?

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[cbrons]

Find a physician outside your university hospital system. 99% chance that nothing bad would happen if you see someone affiliated with your system but maybe it'll give you peace of mind to go elsewhere. If its psychiatric in nature, I would double recommend this.

 

[redpanda]

Honestly, I just use the general IM clinic that the residents and some of the medical students rotate in, but I do make sure that the trainees don't see me first since I work with them. I suspect that your program would not have a problem accommodating you if they somehow assign you to your PCP for a rotation and you tell them that's your personal physician as well.

 

[The Kraken]

Student health is a safe bet

 

[KnuxNole]

For compassionate care, I hear NPs do a great job.

 

[SouthernSurgeon]

Find a physician outside your university hospital system. 99% chance that nothing bad would happen if you see someone affiliated with your system but maybe it'll give you peace of mind to go elsewhere. If its psychiatric in nature, I would double recommend this.

Our insurance plan when I was a med student required us to use university Student health as our PCP, and we couldn't self-refer to a subspecialist- had to get a referral from student health.

 

[Frazier]

Community FM doc, part of a FM group. Owned by my school's hospital system...but then again they have their roots growing into most healthcare entities in the region.

Not too worried at all about EMR.

 

[DrEnderW]

I used ZocDoc and picked a guy whose office I could walk to from my apartment.

 

[Jabbed]

I don't have a PCP. Doctors are all quacks anyways..

 

[Rirruto]

Our insurance plan when I was a med student required us to use university Student health as our PCP, and we couldn't self-refer to a subspecialist- had to get a referral from student health.

Same, plus our student health is majority NPs.

 

[SouthernSurgeon]

Same, plus our student health is majority NPs.

Ditto, but I always insisted on MD only.

 

[hmockingbird]

At our school, you are not supposed to be evaluated by anyone who treats you. If you happened to be assigned to them, they will just change the assignment. I feel like this is probably a common policy? I would maybe ask your school about that.

I asked one of the doctors at my school to recommend a PCP who was experienced with the types of health problems I have (I was very general). I also asked the secretary for names for an eye doctor. Honestly, if I was to have a serious issue, I would be going to our main hospital anyway because I'd want to go to a tertiary, academic hospital, so I'd hopefully not but possibly be in the system at some point even without going to a doctor who's (somewhat) associated with the school. I've never had students at either of those clinics but if I did, I think I would probably ask not to be seen by a student because I just feel like it would be awkward, especially if it turned out to be someone I'm not particularly friends with.

 

[CherryRedDracul]

To be honest, I haven't seen my PCP since the summer before med school started. He's an MD close to my home town though.

 

[TheShaker]

Ditto, but I always insisted on MD only.

I can never find a tactful way of saying this...

I only get care from the NP anyways since the student health clinic is free while an MD from the outside requires a copay... :/

 

[SouthernSurgeon]

I can never find a tactful way of saying this...

I only get care from the NP anyways since the student health clinic is free while an MD from the outside requires a copay... :/

Easy. When you call to make the appointment, say "I want to see an MD, not a nurse practitioner". You don't need to justify it.

 

[TooMuchResearch]

As a med student, I occasionally went to a family practice clinic near my house/apartment/cardboard box/whatever. I only went with specific requests (I injured xxxx and need xxxx. I have xxxx and need xxxx.). As a resident, I'll probably do the same. I don't require much medical care and had enough medical testing done for life/disability insurance underwriting that I shouldn't need much that cannot be provided at work for the next few years.

 

[SouthernSurgeon]

As a med student, I occasionally went to a family practice clinic near my house/apartment/cardboard box/whatever. I only went with specific requests (I injured xxxx and need xxxx. I have xxxx and need xxxx.). As a resident, I'll probably do the same. I don't require much medical care and had enough medical testing done for life/disability insurance underwriting that I shouldn't need much that cannot be provided at work for the next few years.

That's basically what I used student health for.

I had to get a required physical before med school which verified that I had no health problems and my cholesterol was low. I didn't have any need of a "regular" PCP - the only times I went were like - I injured my ankle playing softball (lame I know) and I think I need to see a sports med doc.

 

[ImmunoLove]

Depends on your needs. If it's straightforward (sprained ankle, annual physical), and not of a particularly sensitive nature, head over to the school clinic. If it's more than that (e.g. psych, esp "taboo" stuff), then you might feel more comfortable going outside of the system, paying out of pocket, etc. I tend to hate going to the doctor and will avoid it at all costs (and fortunately my docs are friends and a casual "hey, I dx'd A based on XYZ, gimme [insert request]"). And frankly I'm medically uninteresting, so I just use what's provided. I can imagine situations where one might want to take extra steps to protect their confidentiality, however.

 

[seminoma]

Private practice with no affiliation to your school. Shouldn't be that hard to find.

 

[TooMuchResearch]

Depends on your needs. If it's straightforward (sprained ankle, annual physical), and not of a particularly sensitive nature, head over to the school clinic. If it's more than that (e.g. psych, esp "taboo" stuff), then you might feel more comfortable going outside of the system, paying out of pocket, etc. I tend to hate going to the doctor and will avoid it at all costs (and fortunately my docs are friends and a casual "hey, I dx'd A based on XYZ, gimme [insert request]"). And frankly I'm medically uninteresting, so I just use what's provided. I can imagine situations where one might want to take extra steps to protect their confidentiality, however.

Why are people getting annual physicals?

 

[ImmunoLove]

Why are people getting annual physicals?

Yeah- can't say I'm actually following through with that so much for my own health as I do for my job requirements...