How To Choose A Good Doctor
Choosing a doctor is important for anyone's well being. For people with chronnic illnesses or disABILITIES choosing a good doctor can mean a life with little or no pain, a longer life and a lower chance of other health issues arising in the future.
This lens will give you advice on how to find a doctor that not only is aware of new and upcoming treatments, is a specialist in your area of concern but treats you as a partner in your health care and views you as a whole person instead of a medical condition.
Please note this advice is for people who have already been diagnosed, not people going through the diagnosis process. That may be another lens!
Using Medical Resources and Networking
If you have a diagnosis of a rare disease or a disease that is difficult to treat there are two ways to find a doctor:
1. You can look for a local support group for advice. Check the newspaper, call the Health Department or even the Public Library for information.
2. There may be organizations online that can help you find a doctor who is a specialist in that area.
Below I'll list some online resources.
1. You can look for a local support group for advice. Check the newspaper, call the Health Department or even the Public Library for information.
2. There may be organizations online that can help you find a doctor who is a specialist in that area.
Below I'll list some online resources.
ShawnsBidness Links
- Brain Foggles
I'm a Christian wife and mom of two daughters. My daughters are 12 years apart so that keeps me quite busy and a little crazy at times. I do too much and have trouble keeping it together. My family and church are my priorities, but I seem to get that confused a lot. I also volunteer online, at my church and at my daughter's school.
I have multiple autoimmune diseases: Myasthenia Gravis, Sjogren's Syndrome, Fibromyalgia, Rheumatoid Arthritis and Ulcerative Colitis. As much as I don't like to dwell on this it's a huge part of my life that I can't avoid.
The name of my blog, Brain Foggles relates to the "brain fog" or problems I have with my memory, concentration and doing things I did before I was diagnosed and on a lot of medications like keeping track of things on my calendar, balancing my checkbook, etc. Sometimes this bothers me but I've come to accept it. Things could be so much worse.- My Chronic Life
Over 4 years ago I was diagnosed with a major chronic illness that has changed my life. Now I can say it's for the better. At first I was miserable, but not any more. I still have my bad days but I hope to help others from what I've learned.
My chronic illnesses are: Ulcerative Colitis, Myasthenia Gravis, Fibromyalgia, Sjogren's Syndrome, Anemia, Mytral Valve Prolapse and Rhuematoid Arthritis. Most are autoimmune diseases that run in my family.
My goal in life is to be an advocate for people with disABILITIES of any kind by doing all I can to be sure that people are judged by who they are and not what they can't do. Let's get the word out - being chronically ill doesn't mean you look sick!
I love to eat, to go to Disney World, to be with my family and my church and to volunteer. And now I love to blog. Join me on my adventure - My Chronic Life.- Disabled Online Users Association
- Assisting the differently-abled to become financially independent through eBay auction and website sales. Providing one-on-one support, resources, motivation, and training. Disabled Online Users Association
Disease Resources Online
- National Fibromyalgia Association: Home page
- The National Fibromyalgia Association has a network of support groups across the United States, and encourages participation of the fibromyalgia community. Participation in support groups can provide an opportunity to reach out to others who have had similar challenges and foster an improved understanding of lifestyle management.
- Welcome to MDA | Muscular Dystrophy Association Where Hope Begins.......
- A national voluntary health agency dedicated to more than 40 neuromuscular diseases that affect a million Americans of all ages. Use this search to find an MDA clinic in your area.
- Rest Ministries Organization
- If you or someone you love lives with chronic illness, Rest Ministries is a place where you will find understanding and compassion. We have over 300 pages of support "groups," resources, links and more--even HopeKeepers Groups throughout the U.S. and beyond. We hope you will find something to take with you before you leave
- Arthritis Foundation | Symptoms Treatments | Prevention Tips | Pain Relief Advice
- Welcome to the Local Office Directory. Please enter your ZIP code to go directly to the closest office near you or select a state from the map to view that state's local office information.
- Lupus Foundation of America
- To locate a physician in your area, contact your nearest chapter of the Lupus Foundation of America. They can provide a list of physicians in their service area who diagnose and treat lupus.
- The Sjogren's Syndrome Foundation
- There are over 100 support groups located throughout the United States and Canada. These groups, run by volunteers, provide members who have had Sjögren's for some time opportunity to share their advice and tips for living more comfortably with Sjögren's. Much can be learned at each support group meeting, whether it is a discussion among patients or features a medical professional or other expert.
- Office of Rare Diseases
- View the Rare Diseases Terms Ask questions or get help from the Genetic and Rare Diseases Information Center View the list of Patient Support Groups
more View clinical trials information Access the Rare Diseases Clinical Research Network - MGFA - Myasthenia Gravis Foundation
- The Myasthenia Gravis Foundation of America maintains over 30 chapters located throughout the country, including one Internet-based chapter. Our chapters offer a wide variety of patient-oriented services, including support groups, public and medical professional education forums, newsletters, and local help-lines. Our chapters are also able to provide patients and their families with information on local resources. We encourage all patients to contact their local chapter for more information on their programs.
Additionally, if there is not chapter or support group in your area you may find useful services via MGNet at www.mgfa-mgnet.org. The first chapter of any major health organization in the world to be located in cyberspace.
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A Doctor's Report Card
From DiagKNOWsis:One aspect of being a good patient is being a good health care consumer.
Think of it this way: if your mechanic or hairdresser or plumber or any other service provider is doing a good job, then you thankthem and pay them and return to them when you need them again. But if one of them is doing a lousy job, then you'll either ask them to do it differently - or you'll find someone else who can provide that service instead.
For some reason, most patients don't take the same approach with their medical providers. Many of us feel paralyzed at the thought of providing feedback, when providing feedback can be the very thing that improves not just our relationships with our providers, but our outcomes as well.
Providing feedback to your provider, in the spirit of fair assessment, is empowering for both you and your provider.
Please click here to access a report card for all of your doctors:
You Gotta Laugh - disABILITLY Items on Cafe Press
Be Sure About Your Doctor
When you have a chronic illness or disABILITY it is imperative that your doctor specializes in your health issue. If you have Multiple Sclerosis seeing a neurologist is well and good, but having a doctor that has a large case load of MS patients is what you need. This way your doctor keeps up on the latest research and treatments. You don't want a doctor that treats only a few people with MS and follows guidelines that are 10 years old.
If you live in a rural area that may mean traveling, but many doctors that specialize will make it as easy as possible on you. S/He may make arrangements with your primary care doctor to communicate and take orders over the phone for hospital stays, prescriptions and routine checkups. So having a primary doctor that understands this need is important too.
S/he may allow you to call in your symptoms and make changes to your medications or have you be seen by your primary care doctor first. Many good doctors have patients that fly in from around the country to see them so they are used to this type of arrangement. Don't let the miles apart deter you from seeing a good doc.
If you live in a rural area that may mean traveling, but many doctors that specialize will make it as easy as possible on you. S/He may make arrangements with your primary care doctor to communicate and take orders over the phone for hospital stays, prescriptions and routine checkups. So having a primary doctor that understands this need is important too.
S/he may allow you to call in your symptoms and make changes to your medications or have you be seen by your primary care doctor first. Many good doctors have patients that fly in from around the country to see them so they are used to this type of arrangement. Don't let the miles apart deter you from seeing a good doc.
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Research Your Doctor
- Doctor Background Check
- A doctor's credentials will not guarantee you receive high quality health care. However, you can use several criteria to find an experienced well-trained physician or surgeon.
- How to choose a doctor, questions to ask how to research a doctor on MedicineNet.com
- Choosing a new physician can be a difficult task, especially if you have moved and are living in a new community. Where do you begin to find the right doctor for you?
- HealthGrades - Research Hospitals, Doctors and Nursing Homes
- HealthGrades, the leading independent healthcare ratings company. Research hospitals, doctors, nursing homes, and more.
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Blog Posts from Google
- Prominent Cancer Doctor Warns About Cellphones
- Despite limited evidence, some doctors are advising people to be cautious about cellphone use.
- Is Steve Jobs' doctor an insider?
- Suppose that his doctor had conducted an examination and found Mr. Jobs to be in tip-top shape -- if he goes out and buys call options before the news reaches the media, is that insider trading? I'm not sure. ...
- Another Nice Mess
- It's a brave person who gets involved in the making of extras for Doctor Who DVDs nowadays. Even short bits of fluff on uncontroversial topics can be subjected to the kind of criticism the mainstream media would usually reserve for the ...
Let Me Know What You Think
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Shirleysdelight
Great lens! Packed full of great information! Well done! Posted February 03, 2008 |
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keywordsadvertising
Great lens you've got here, people need good information about Choosing A Good Doctor. If you need some extra traffic to your lens - You're invited to add your lenses to the Keyword Advertising Group. Posted October 25, 2007 |
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Christopher_Scott
Great lens, we all need a good doctor every once and a while! Lots of great information for all of us. Keep up the hard work. Come over to A DAY OF HOPE Posted October 01, 2007 |
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DOUA
Lots of great info here. 5* Posted September 09, 2007 |
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thecreatorspalette
Excellent Lens!! Thank you!!! Posted August 26, 2007 |
