Comments on: How connected are you to a primary care doctor? http://www.kevinmd.com/blog/2009/04/how-connected-are-you-to-primary-care.html Tue, 14 Feb 2012 19:56:00 +0000 hourly 1 By: Charlenehttp://www.kevinmd.com/blog/2009/04/how-connected-are-you-to-primary-care.html#comment-90678 Charlene Fri, 03 Apr 2009 02:05:00 +0000 http://clients.emmense.com/kevinmd/2009/04/how-connected-are-you-to-a-primary-care-doctor.html#comment-90678 I am very connected! I can not stress enough how important preventive care is! The only thing I can do is give you my personal experience...I had my preventive visit last fall. Found out I had positive fecal occult blood test and my blood work showed that I was anemic (that explains why I was so tired!). Obviously, I had some bleeding going on somewhere, but nothing that showed up with any subjective symptoms. I went for further testing and my colonoscopy showed that I had diverticulitis; however, I also had one pre-cancerous polyp removed. I am 42 years old. If I didn't have this test until I was 50 years old (as the guidelines suggest), I may have a full blown colon cancer by then! I am very connected! I can not stress enough how important preventive care is! The only thing I can do is give you my personal experience…I had my preventive visit last fall. Found out I had positive fecal occult blood test and my blood work showed that I was anemic (that explains why I was so tired!). Obviously, I had some bleeding going on somewhere, but nothing that showed up with any subjective symptoms. I went for further testing and my colonoscopy showed that I had diverticulitis; however, I also had one pre-cancerous polyp removed. I am 42 years old. If I didn’t have this test until I was 50 years old (as the guidelines suggest), I may have a full blown colon cancer by then!

]]> By: mariahttp://www.kevinmd.com/blog/2009/04/how-connected-are-you-to-primary-care.html#comment-90677 maria Fri, 03 Apr 2009 01:33:00 +0000 http://clients.emmense.com/kevinmd/2009/04/how-connected-are-you-to-a-primary-care-doctor.html#comment-90677 As someone who lives with and works with individuals with lupus, the primary care physician is less likely to be able to provide necessary 'support' due to the increased specialized care we need. <br/><br/>In addition, for those of us without insurance coverage, the primary care physician means more money towards medical and less for living expenses. We save cash for specialists, meds and food.<br/><br/>Thanks for the post. As someone who lives with and works with individuals with lupus, the primary care physician is less likely to be able to provide necessary ‘support’ due to the increased specialized care we need.

In addition, for those of us without insurance coverage, the primary care physician means more money towards medical and less for living expenses. We save cash for specialists, meds and food.

Thanks for the post.

]]> By: Dr. IKEhttp://www.kevinmd.com/blog/2009/04/how-connected-are-you-to-primary-care.html#comment-90676 Dr. IKE Fri, 03 Apr 2009 01:21:00 +0000 http://clients.emmense.com/kevinmd/2009/04/how-connected-are-you-to-a-primary-care-doctor.html#comment-90676 While I think it is easy (and true) to say that <a HREF="http://www.drikedc.com/blog/2009/03/28/does-your-doctor-care-about-you/" REL="nofollow">connectedness leads to better care</a>, I also would argue that it decreases the likelihood of doctor burnout. My days go much quicker when I have a patient load full of people I "know." While I think it is easy (and true) to say that connectedness leads to better care, I also would argue that it decreases the likelihood of doctor burnout. My days go much quicker when I have a patient load full of people I “know.”

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