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.
Maybe dumb Q...
I know I won't get many responses until Monday, but I keep forgetting to ask this so I am going to post now while it is on my mind:
How do I go about finding a doctor? (I know I have to see who my insurance covers but besides that.)
I'm Canadian so it has been a huge learning curve for me with the American medical system since I moved here just over a year ago. I haven't had a need to see a doctor since I've been here so I've been putting off finding one. How does it work over here? Do you find a doctor or a practice? Do you just call to see if they take new patients? Do you go in just to meet the doctor? Sorry these are such elementary questions- I just really don't know where to start.
TTC September 2010 thru October 2011
SA February 2011: Normal
RE App. October 2011 - Recc. Clomid and IUI
Taking a break from TTC to pursue adoption
Met our 2 year old son in Russia July 2012!
Court trip October 2012
Home November 24 2012!
adoption blog: addingaburden.com
Re: Maybe dumb Q...
What insurance do you have? I would start by looking on your insurance companies website for doctors in this area that take your particular insurance and plan. One suggestion when you are calling around is to make sure you have your insurance card on hand when calling. Most insurance companies have several different plans, and some doctors don't take all plans from each company.
What type of doctor are you looking to see? An internist/family practician, or an OB/GYN? If so, I have a few recommendations. For internist, I would recommend Dr. Donna Harold, she's with MMPC and is fantastic. For GYN, I see Kellie Rilley, one of the PA's; but everyone at their office is great. Kellie is also with MMPC.
HTH!
Hm I don't even know what to call the doctor I'm looking for. I'm just looking for a regular doctor- someone to see for physicals and/or health concerns like if I get an eye infection or need an immunization or find a suspicious mole etc: all those regular non-emergency type things. What is the difference between an internist and a general practitioner? What is "MMPC"?
ETA: I have a plan by Golden Rule.
TTC September 2010 thru October 2011
SA February 2011: Normal
RE App. October 2011 - Recc. Clomid and IUI
Taking a break from TTC to pursue adoption
Met our 2 year old son in Russia July 2012!
Court trip October 2012
Home November 24 2012!
adoption blog: addingaburden.com
When I first moved to the area, I found a new doctor by first asking around for recommendations, then reading about the doctor and her practice online, and then calling the doctor's office and asking if she's accepting new patience and if she'll accept my insurance.
I have never really figured out what exactly an internist is, but I think you're looking for a general practitioner. :-)
MMPC is a large (probably the largest) physician group in the Grand Rapids area. They're affiliated with Spectrum Health.
Another large physician's group is Advantage Health which is affiliated with Saint Mary's hospital. I see Dr. Bultje at Advantage Health and I love her, but she may not be taking new patients right now.
One of the reasons I like having a doctor with Advantage Health is because it is such a large physician's group. If I need an appointment and my doctor isn't available, they have enough other doctors that they can get me in to see someone right away. Even if it's not my doctor, I like know that I'll be able to see a doctor when I need to and not have to wait. I imagine that MMPC works the same way.
Just out of curiosity, can I ask how this process works in Canada?
I begin by working off of recomendations from friends. I go to the dr. when i'm not sick, and ask for a physical, just to feel them out to see if their personality/approach is a fit with my personality.
I don't know the details in the difference between a general dr. and an internist. I'm sure it has something to do with a slighty different training background. Currently I see an internist, but I used to see a general dr. I just switched when I moved.
Ohh, and make sure they're a proferred provider for your insurance, and not just take your insurance. It's a word game, but a lot of doctors out here will do that. They 'take' all insurances, but if they're not a proferred provider, you don't get the discounted rate.
In Canada I never had to find a doctor b/c I always went to the same one since I was little. I think the process is similar, except you don't have to worry about insurance, since your province covers the cost. You see your regular doctor for everything unless it is an emergency in which case you can go to a walk-in clinic or the ER. If you need to see a specialist you have to get referred to one by your doctor- you can't make the appointment yourself. For pregnancy all the women I know had midwives. I think you can get an OBGYN on your own if you want to, but I don't know anyone who has- they all see their regular doctor for yearly exams and have midwives for pregnancy and birth.
TTC September 2010 thru October 2011
SA February 2011: Normal
RE App. October 2011 - Recc. Clomid and IUI
Taking a break from TTC to pursue adoption
Met our 2 year old son in Russia July 2012!
Court trip October 2012
Home November 24 2012!
adoption blog: addingaburden.com
I just want to say that it isn't a dumb question. Growing up my family didn't have a "doctor", we would just go to urgent care the few times we were seriously ill.
I had the same question when I got my own insurance and had to select a Primary Care Physician. I selected a doctor based on recomendations. GL!