How to find a medical specialist
April 20, 2011 8:02 AM Subscribe
How does one find a specialist in your area?
A friend is trying to locate a doctor who is a specialist in Klinefelter's Syndrome. This sort of crosses all kinds of medical areas: endocrinology, genetics, etc. A surprising number of doctors are unfamiliar with Klinefelter's, even though 1 in 500 men have it. My friend is in Chicago, and other than combing university websites, are there any other resources for locating a specialist in this particular genetic disorder? The AMA's website won't let you get any more specific than "endocrinology."
A friend is trying to locate a doctor who is a specialist in Klinefelter's Syndrome. This sort of crosses all kinds of medical areas: endocrinology, genetics, etc. A surprising number of doctors are unfamiliar with Klinefelter's, even though 1 in 500 men have it. My friend is in Chicago, and other than combing university websites, are there any other resources for locating a specialist in this particular genetic disorder? The AMA's website won't let you get any more specific than "endocrinology."
How did your friend find out he has Klinefelter's syndrome? (I'm assuming here he does.) Can he talk to the person who diagnosed him? Maybe they can refer him to somebody.
posted by madcaptenor at 8:05 AM on April 20, 2011
posted by madcaptenor at 8:05 AM on April 20, 2011
If availablelight's link doesn't help enough:
Ask around for recommendations to a really really good general practitioner (or internist). Ask the GP to help you find a good specialist. If they don't know, they should call around to find out, and they should also get the doctor-side opinions of who's good at what they do.
posted by galadriel at 8:22 AM on April 20, 2011
Ask around for recommendations to a really really good general practitioner (or internist). Ask the GP to help you find a good specialist. If they don't know, they should call around to find out, and they should also get the doctor-side opinions of who's good at what they do.
posted by galadriel at 8:22 AM on April 20, 2011
Support groups. On-line ones are easiest (typing "Klinefelter's Syndrome support group" into Google brings back many results).
posted by The corpse in the library at 8:23 AM on April 20, 2011
posted by The corpse in the library at 8:23 AM on April 20, 2011
A crude Pubmed search for Kleinfelter's and Chicago brought up a few articles, that all seem to be coming from the University of Illinois, so I would start there. They have an Endocrinology Clinic, where your friend is likely to be seen by at least one endocrinology fellow and an attending.
Clinics like these are great - the attendings tend to be incredibly knowledgeable in their fields, and since each patient is a learning experience for the students, their case is pretty closely scrutinized. And it sounds a little grotesque, but I imagine the students will be excited to see someone with Kleinfelter's syndrome. Your friend may be asked to talk to multiple people, but he is completely free to decline anything that makes him uncomfortable. And if he wants more privacy, he can request a referral to a specialist. The attendings will know a lot of endocrinolgists in the area and can refer your friend to someone who they think is uniquely suited to handle his case.
posted by ladypants at 8:57 AM on April 20, 2011
Clinics like these are great - the attendings tend to be incredibly knowledgeable in their fields, and since each patient is a learning experience for the students, their case is pretty closely scrutinized. And it sounds a little grotesque, but I imagine the students will be excited to see someone with Kleinfelter's syndrome. Your friend may be asked to talk to multiple people, but he is completely free to decline anything that makes him uncomfortable. And if he wants more privacy, he can request a referral to a specialist. The attendings will know a lot of endocrinolgists in the area and can refer your friend to someone who they think is uniquely suited to handle his case.
posted by ladypants at 8:57 AM on April 20, 2011
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posted by availablelight at 8:04 AM on April 20, 2011