New Jersey Nesties
Dear Community,
Our tech team has launched updates to The Nest today. As a result of these updates, members of the Nest Community will need to change their password in order to continue participating in the community. In addition, The Nest community member's avatars will be replaced with generic default avatars. If you wish to revert to your original avatar, you will need to re-upload it via The Nest.
If you have questions about this, please email help@theknot.com.
Thank you.
Note: This only affects The Nest's community members and will not affect members on The Bump or The Knot.
Our tech team has launched updates to The Nest today. As a result of these updates, members of the Nest Community will need to change their password in order to continue participating in the community. In addition, The Nest community member's avatars will be replaced with generic default avatars. If you wish to revert to your original avatar, you will need to re-upload it via The Nest.
If you have questions about this, please email help@theknot.com.
Thank you.
Note: This only affects The Nest's community members and will not affect members on The Bump or The Knot.
do you have a primary care physician?
if so, what does he/she do?
everytime i go to the obgyn, the RE, the gastro, and recently a genetic counselor, they all ask me who my primary care physician is.
what would i go to one for? i feel like if i went to a primary care physician for a stomach issue, they would tell me to go to a gastro dr, and i can just do that myself (my insurance doesnt require referrals).
so whats up with the pcp? do i really need one?
and while we are at it, any recs for a great one in the central nj area?
Re: do you have a primary care physician?
your pcp is responsible for the coordination of your overall healthcare...i have been with my pcp since i was about 14 or so...he is mine, my parents and at one point my grandparents pcp...so he is familiar with my family history...
who do you go to when you're sick? like a sinus infection or something and need anti-biotics...who is monitoring your cholesterol and stuff like that...usually you start with a pcp who sends you out to a specialist when you have an issue that (s)he can't handle...
i have one, i go to him for general care, so if i think i have strep or something like that, thats where i go.
i used to go to dr rizvi in north brunswick i think he was? he was ok. i dont think you necessarily need a pcp unless you want to...
Well said.
I never had a PCP until I ended up in the ER when I aggravated my sciatic nerve and it cost me almost $200. I also decided I needed to take better care of myself with regular check-ups.
Like the pp said, if you need antibiotics who do you call? Before getting a PCP I was lucky and didn't need anything like that, but now I'm glad I have someone to call.
jackie, another thing to consider about a pcp and specialists...at least in my experience...
when you go to a specialist, they focus on that one issue that you are there for...for instance...you're having a stomach problem, so you go to a gastro...but they're not necessairly sensitive to what impact their treatment is having on other systems of your body...that's something that your pcp would monitor...
plus...alot of companies, in an attempt to lower healthcare costs are encouraging employees to have a physical annually to monitor overall health...they are finding that people who see their dr's at least once a year are managing their health better, identifying any potential health issues earlier, and are in a position to better treat them!
my insurance requires me to have one. i'm fairly certain this is a requirement on most policies.
like the PPs, i'm curious to know who you go to when you're sick.
Yes, I have a PCP. I don't have an RE, gastro, etc. like you do.....
My PCP takes care of all my history and does my physicals and she's the person I go to when I don't feel well.
i dont really get sick, with the exception of the annual cold (which i just ride out til its gone).
i see my RE once a year for my PCOS. He sends me for bloodwork for cholesterol, sugar, all that jazz.
i guess since i never really needed a regular doctor, it never occurred to me to have a pcp. my insurance doesnt require that i have one.
i tend to keep track of all my visits and annuals on my own. i am really good about keeping up with my annual visits and check ups. long family history of cancer + a bit of a hypocondriac (sp?) = i dont miss dr appts.
sooooo- any recs for one?
We use Garden State Phycisians (dr. DeOra). We are both happy with her.
Also worth noting... Mh and I rarely got sick... And then we had kids in daycare.
Seeing that my husband is a PCP (Internal Medicine), I know there are times that having a GP/PCP is really a must
Sure, the minute clinic is good for the quick sick visit, but if something serious should occur, and you require hospitalization, you are then at the mercy of the "hospital doc" who cares for 50+ others in the hospital (uninsured/indigent).
Having a primary, you would have someone managing your care, being the liaison between you and other specialists, and the one managing your care while in the hospital and afterwards.
Even if it's for a once a year check-up, it's a good idea to establish a relationship with a doctor you can trust.