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Your Tips on How to Get Off to the Best Start with a New Specialist

Posted by Colleen Young, Connect Director @colleenyoung, Nov 2, 2018

I'm looking for your best tips.
Starting a relationship with a new specialist can be daunting. You want to get off to a good start and ensure that you establish mutual respect and are able to develop trust. You want to know you're in good hands. What is their expertise and experience? What research are they doing? Will they listen and consider your input?

How do you get off to the best start with a new provider? What suggestions would you tell a friend who is going to see a new doctor?

+++UPDATE+++
Your tips in action: Tips shared in the discussion below made this video. It's great advice: For patients by patients.
https://youtu.be/Bw-RrEKTt60

Interested in more discussions like this? Go to the Visiting Mayo Clinic Support Group.

JK | @contentandwell | Jan 15, 2021
In reply to @fiesty76 "@gingerw, Unfortunately, your husband's rude awakening sounds very like my most recent visit with my nephrologist..." + (show)
@fiesty76

@gingerw, Unfortunately, your husband's rude awakening sounds very like my most recent visit with my nephrologist who insists on using a specifc lab for tests and not allowing me lab results until following her visit.

When I told her at my last visit what had occurred at the lab...no temp taken, no sanitary wipes provided, no anti-bacterial soap, and the biggest alarm: no mask worn until tech finally sat to draw blood, she replied: "That was unfortunate." Unfortunate? I should have reported the lab same day to the local health dept!

When asked if she would order next labs at the hospital/clinic all other labs are done, she responded: "We have a special arrangement with this lab and I prefer it". Really???? Hard to believe but True! Third chance for her to provide some guidance; three strikes, she's out and waiting for referral to new neph!

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@fiesty76 That lab is terrible, it should be reported. I had an unfortunate experience with a tech when I had an ultrasound. When the doctor wanted me to go for another ultrasound I told her I would not go back to that department at the hospital that she is affiliated with due to the experience. She was shocked at my experience and referred me to the department at the other hospital in town, so I am sure that hit home, that I would not go to her hospital's own department. I am quite sure she must have called and reported my experience.
JK

REPLY
2 replies
JK | @contentandwell | Jan 15, 2021
In reply to @lacy2 "@fiesty76 .... I just wrote and deleted (as way too long) a response re labs. Most..." + (show)
@lacy2

@fiesty76 .... I just wrote and deleted (as way too long) a response re labs. Most of which are A1. I have noticed a change and not for the better now staff are busy with extra visits cos of Covid etc. Last UTI I went to walk-in clinic, see nurse, then Dr. on screen..... tiny washroom that you could barely move in; no toilet paper (noticed too late) and no paper towels. Floors were not that clean.... even the small office where you discuss medical problem was not clean and floor needed a sweep and a wash, under the rads, the legs on the furniture were dirty etc. Another lab I went to, again, tiny for the number of people using it, not clean and could see the rings of dry and wet urine left by people sitting their sample on small bit of counter around the sink.. Considering antibiotics are given if there are germs in the urine, I would say that there are plenty of germs already in the room! The washrooms are NOT being wiped out between uses by patients and how could they be by the staff that are so busy? My answer is: I obtained some new sealed urine sample bottles myself. The day of the visit to the "lab" or docctor: I wash at home and do my own sample... take it right away to the lab, go into the unclean washroom, sterilize my hands with my own lotion, and pour my sample into their container! At least I know it is a "clean catch" Nothing illegal about it, not testing for drugs etc.
Perhaps if you put your concerns in writing to the doctor and ask for a written response, she might be put on the spot to actually put her remarks in writing? Could you also/or send a letter to the Lab itself or its head office.... we have enough stress to deal with without this type of thing which has an easy fix: Is it asking too much to want to visit a medical office that is clean etc? J.(Ontario)

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@lacy2 I have to do urine samples at times and I go to the lab ahead of time, or get a container when I happen to be at the lab, and then use it at home. It's so much easier than having to get a specimen there. I always have one of their containers here, for when I might need to use it.
JK

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1 reply
fiesty76 | @fiesty76 | Jan 17, 2021
In reply to @amandaa "@fiesty76 How fortunate you found a pharmacist that cares for the patients they serve. That is..." + (show)
@amandaa

@fiesty76 How fortunate you found a pharmacist that cares for the patients they serve. That is always good! Who is referring you to a new nephrologist?

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@amandaburnett, Yes! New scripts are sent to my nearby Walgreens when short term or new ones are prescribed. I have no idea what prompted this particular pharmacist to have noticed the recent b.p. med change and was so stunned by his phone call, I didn't have the wits to ask! lol

I've asked my family practice, pcp, doc for a her personal recommendation/referral to a nephrologist who uses our hospital/clinic and labs. She promised to look into one and I'll be asking at our in-patient visit in early Feb. I am so hopeful that a different nephrologist will provide more help and guidance. Thank you for asking!

REPLY
fiesty76 | @fiesty76 | Jan 17, 2021
In reply to @lacy2 "@fiesty76 .... I just wrote and deleted (as way too long) a response re labs. Most..." + (show)
@lacy2

@fiesty76 .... I just wrote and deleted (as way too long) a response re labs. Most of which are A1. I have noticed a change and not for the better now staff are busy with extra visits cos of Covid etc. Last UTI I went to walk-in clinic, see nurse, then Dr. on screen..... tiny washroom that you could barely move in; no toilet paper (noticed too late) and no paper towels. Floors were not that clean.... even the small office where you discuss medical problem was not clean and floor needed a sweep and a wash, under the rads, the legs on the furniture were dirty etc. Another lab I went to, again, tiny for the number of people using it, not clean and could see the rings of dry and wet urine left by people sitting their sample on small bit of counter around the sink.. Considering antibiotics are given if there are germs in the urine, I would say that there are plenty of germs already in the room! The washrooms are NOT being wiped out between uses by patients and how could they be by the staff that are so busy? My answer is: I obtained some new sealed urine sample bottles myself. The day of the visit to the "lab" or docctor: I wash at home and do my own sample... take it right away to the lab, go into the unclean washroom, sterilize my hands with my own lotion, and pour my sample into their container! At least I know it is a "clean catch" Nothing illegal about it, not testing for drugs etc.
Perhaps if you put your concerns in writing to the doctor and ask for a written response, she might be put on the spot to actually put her remarks in writing? Could you also/or send a letter to the Lab itself or its head office.... we have enough stress to deal with without this type of thing which has an easy fix: Is it asking too much to want to visit a medical office that is clean etc? J.(Ontario)

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@lacy2, Thank you for responding and for sharing your recent totally unacceptable lab experiences. I just managed to delete a more lengthy response ... dang! So glad you could and did obtain new sealed urine sample bottles to use at home and upset that it was even needed along with the personal hygiene aids you provided for yourself at the lab to better ensure a more hygiene for the urine labs.

Once I've found a much better nephrologist and lab, I'd considered what you suggested and may well follow through with letters to both that neph and lab with copies to our local health dept. I also intend to write a patient review of each at the http://www.healthgrade.com site.

While all public health entities and private medical/lab practices are working beyond reasonable limits during this surge of pandemic, it is more important than ever that patients can be safe in clean facilities when seeking required in-person help for chronic conditions.

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fiesty76 | @fiesty76 | Jan 17, 2021
In reply to @contentandwell "@fiesty76 That lab is terrible, it should be reported. I had an unfortunate experience with a..." + (show)
@contentandwell

@fiesty76 That lab is terrible, it should be reported. I had an unfortunate experience with a tech when I had an ultrasound. When the doctor wanted me to go for another ultrasound I told her I would not go back to that department at the hospital that she is affiliated with due to the experience. She was shocked at my experience and referred me to the department at the other hospital in town, so I am sure that hit home, that I would not go to her hospital's own department. I am quite sure she must have called and reported my experience.
JK

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@contentandwell, So glad that your doc was shocked and very impressed that she followed up with a referral to a hospital she was not affiliated with. We have two large hospitals here and they are generally pretty territorial so your doc's action went far beyond what I'd expect in my locale. Kudos to you, JK, for reporting to her your unfortunate experience and hugs to her for putting the welfare of her patient first! Heartening news indeed!

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fiesty76 | @fiesty76 | Jan 17, 2021
In reply to @contentandwell "@lacy2 I have to do urine samples at times and I go to the lab ahead..." + (show)
@contentandwell

@lacy2 I have to do urine samples at times and I go to the lab ahead of time, or get a container when I happen to be at the lab, and then use it at home. It's so much easier than having to get a specimen there. I always have one of their containers here, for when I might need to use it.
JK

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@contentandwell, I also have to do reg. urine tests and appreciate your tip of asking for the test sample vials ahead of time or at the time of the lab visit. So much more convenient and also easier to ensure that at home, the patient won't be concerned about enough output. I know it doesn't take much urine but feel a bit anxious about being able to carry out the test successfully sometimes in the lab and thus drink more water than usual leading up to the scheduled test.

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1 reply
Valerie | @lacy2 | Jan 17, 2021
In reply to @fiesty76 "@ginger, I do much the same but not as detailed as you in what you take..." + (show)
@fiesty76

@ginger, I do much the same but not as detailed as you in what you take with you to visits.

Cannot agree more that a good and trusted pharmacist is worth his/her weight in gold! Not only are they alert to some interactions of meds and are a ready source for med questions, one called me a few yrs ago after noting that I'd changed high b.p. meds wanting to know how I was doing with the new and higher dosed med. So surprised and touched, I nearly dropped the phone! I was experiencing some adverse reactions to the new drug but if he hadn't called, I would have probably tried to "tough it out" without calling my cardio.

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...with everyone in medical profession so busy these days we have to be proactive: when husband home from out of town hospital and ten new meds on top of usual meds, we were both so tired and confused; next morning for first time ever to our home a nurse from local agency came to change dressing and we told her about all the meds and confusion and she was flabbergasted at what we were expected to sort out but, mostly, she noticed that two blood thinners had been added by the hospital (new) along with two husband was already taking... she said he could have bled to death internally. She phoned the surgeon and the pharmacist. Two meds were returned to the pharmacy. The surgeon was so busy, even doing the surgery on a weekend and the pharmacy got the big order at 2pm and was closing at 6.... I feel they should have notice the 4 blood thinners... but again, so very busy. I feel that nurse possibly saved my husband's life because we would not have realized. She continued to oversee the meds til he got used to putting them in the daily dose containers.... bless her!

REPLY
Valerie | @lacy2 | Jan 17, 2021
In reply to @fiesty76 "@contentandwell, I also have to do reg. urine tests and appreciate your tip of asking for..." + (show)
@fiesty76

@contentandwell, I also have to do reg. urine tests and appreciate your tip of asking for the test sample vials ahead of time or at the time of the lab visit. So much more convenient and also easier to ensure that at home, the patient won't be concerned about enough output. I know it doesn't take much urine but feel a bit anxious about being able to carry out the test successfully sometimes in the lab and thus drink more water than usual leading up to the scheduled test.

Jump to this post

Oh, forgot to mention: after all these years, discovered I can get someone else (my daughter in this case) to take to the lab my urine sample (in appropriate container) together with the doctors requisition! I asked the lab about this one day when didn't feel well enough to take in myself and was told it is acceptable, , and visiting nurse said they often will take in a home-patient's sample when the patient is unable to take it in themselves... what a relief, as taking in myself sometimes entailed taking a taxi and long wait for "my turn." I am not sure if this would include samples for drug testing, but I think that's a different type of lab anyway??
Just wanted to pass along in case your local lab would allow this, if you are interested.... saves a lot of time and energy. and we can use our own clean bathrooms.. also frees up the lab's bathroom for someone else!

REPLY
lucky1038 | @lucky1038 | Jan 17, 2021
In reply to @contentandwell "@fiesty76 That lab is terrible, it should be reported. I had an unfortunate experience with a..." + (show)
@contentandwell

@fiesty76 That lab is terrible, it should be reported. I had an unfortunate experience with a tech when I had an ultrasound. When the doctor wanted me to go for another ultrasound I told her I would not go back to that department at the hospital that she is affiliated with due to the experience. She was shocked at my experience and referred me to the department at the other hospital in town, so I am sure that hit home, that I would not go to her hospital's own department. I am quite sure she must have called and reported my experience.
JK

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Don't be at all SURE your doctor will call anyone... her incentives $$$ are provided by her hospital. Plus doctors like police have a Wall of Silence. If you do want to make sure that your experiences MIGHT be heard, then write to your insurance company, report negligence. And also write to your state's medical board and "complain" about the doctor -- who's NOT going to put HER connections ($$$) on the line for YOU.

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1 reply
JK | @contentandwell | Jan 18, 2021
In reply to @lucky1038 "Don't be at all SURE your doctor will call anyone... her incentives $$$ are provided by..." + (show)
@lucky1038

Don't be at all SURE your doctor will call anyone... her incentives $$$ are provided by her hospital. Plus doctors like police have a Wall of Silence. If you do want to make sure that your experiences MIGHT be heard, then write to your insurance company, report negligence. And also write to your state's medical board and "complain" about the doctor -- who's NOT going to put HER connections ($$$) on the line for YOU.

Jump to this post

@lucky1038. I realize that incentives are dollars these days, but if the doctor has to send a patient to a different hospital’s imaging center there is a dollar loss there, plus potentially more complaints so I suspect she did let the hospital know.
JK

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