RANT!

[Kali]

small town medical clinic. used to be family owned, started by Doc 1 - guy treated three generations of my family (my Grandfather, me and the husband, the squids). sold practice to two of his wife's younger brothers, both REALLY good doctors. one had a family tragedy and left the practice for a while (still?). they had a couple of long time NPs to help handle the load, one I had seen for a few years. she left two years ago (kind of suddenly it seemed) around the time they became affiliated (sold to?) the hospital I like in Tucson. (changed the clinic name to TMC 1, which seems to have a number of "branches" around Tucson as well as the one in my little town) that was kind of nice since the electronic records were all on one site now (even though some of my old records seemed to have been lost/not transferred).

Anyway after my NP left I started seeing one of the other ones that had been there even longer. well, that lasted for about a year before she disappeared. Then last fall they hired (?) a new doctor that I saw once and due to some issues did not get back for a follow up. She has refilled a couple of prescriptions in that time and today I decided I better finally get around to seeing her again so that I can get some other referrals and just continue building the new relationship, right?

NOPE. She isn't there anymore.

So, now I can either go see her in Tucson (inconvenient, no bond), see the latest (looks like a teenager on the website) NP that seems to be there (history of continued relationship/employment is not good) or wait months to see the actual doctor (who is a really good doctor but maybe has some real office management problems???).

I am just incredulous at the turnover happening at this place. is that the new normal now? I remember seeing the same family doctor all my kid life, I think the guy outlived both my parents!, been going to this place for 30+ years but man the last 3 have been insane!

[KT2000]

1. it may be the new normal

My sister had extensive dental work done. She started with a dentist in private practice who sold to a chain. After that it was a new dentist every time she went in over a few years. I do not trust medical/dental chains. They are about money and I want to know where they skimp on costs - which they will because they have to pay the investors - that is #1.

[Kali]

2. I wouldn't mind the chain so much (it is connected to the non-profit community hospital) but the

turnover sucks. I need people who can remember some of my shit when I come in.

[Hoyt]

3. Dr. Welby is gone in most places. So many medical practices nowadays are owned by larger groups

and organizations, including hospitals and even insurance companies.

Doctors can share call and many primary care docs don’t even see patients in hospitals anymore. There are some good aspects of that for patients and physicians.