Communicating with my primary care doctor?
July 18, 2024 11:42 AM Subscribe
My doctor, who's been my doctor for years and who l love, is moving to a different health care system in October. She told me this when I saw her a few weeks ago. I've now investigated, and her new practice does not take my insurance. Ugh.
I'm totally bummed. I've felt lucky to have a doctor I really like and who I can basically say anything to. She's roughly my age, and we just hit if off. I want to say goodbye, thank her for being a great doctor, and also to ask her if she can refer me to anyone. Right now, the only way I have to communicate with her is through the online portal. I'm in NYC, and her system is Mount Sinai. When I write to her there, it often goes through other people, and only messages with direct medical import actually get to her. A couple of times over the years I've written and I'm pretty sure she never saw it. For something like this, should I just send my note and hope it gets to her? Should I call the office and ask her to call me? We are very friendly, so I don't think this is overstepping. In fact, as we were saying goodbye after my last visit, she offered to give me her cell phone number, but I didn't want to overstep, and so I declined. What seems appropriate here?
I'm totally bummed. I've felt lucky to have a doctor I really like and who I can basically say anything to. She's roughly my age, and we just hit if off. I want to say goodbye, thank her for being a great doctor, and also to ask her if she can refer me to anyone. Right now, the only way I have to communicate with her is through the online portal. I'm in NYC, and her system is Mount Sinai. When I write to her there, it often goes through other people, and only messages with direct medical import actually get to her. A couple of times over the years I've written and I'm pretty sure she never saw it. For something like this, should I just send my note and hope it gets to her? Should I call the office and ask her to call me? We are very friendly, so I don't think this is overstepping. In fact, as we were saying goodbye after my last visit, she offered to give me her cell phone number, but I didn't want to overstep, and so I declined. What seems appropriate here?
Before my favorite pcp left the city, I sent a handwritten note to the practice and received a direct response from him (thru MyChart I think) acknowledging the card. I always assume that people will open what looks like a personal card OR something in a FedEx/ups/dhl envelope as they have the appearance of thoughtfulness (the former) or invested cost to send (the latter). Somethings are first opened by an assistant in a work setting, but they'll get them to the right place more often than not.
One thing to consider with the new practice if you have some ability to pay out of pocket is if the new practice would be willing to charge you a cash paying rate for (often at a nice discount comparable to what insurance would pay) your visit with the pcp, and be able to have your labs/bloodwork done at a clinic covered by your insurance. I did this when my insurance at a new job no longer covered my OBGYN and the $$ paid was worth not having to try a new doctor and possibly settle on one I didn't like ... until that doctor also left the city.
posted by icaicaer at 12:06 PM on July 18 [2 favorites]
One thing to consider with the new practice if you have some ability to pay out of pocket is if the new practice would be willing to charge you a cash paying rate for (often at a nice discount comparable to what insurance would pay) your visit with the pcp, and be able to have your labs/bloodwork done at a clinic covered by your insurance. I did this when my insurance at a new job no longer covered my OBGYN and the $$ paid was worth not having to try a new doctor and possibly settle on one I didn't like ... until that doctor also left the city.
posted by icaicaer at 12:06 PM on July 18 [2 favorites]
If you're feeling weird or unprofessional about calling the office and asking to speak with your PCP directly (not that you should) you could frame it to whoever answers as "I'd like to follow up with Dr. X regarding continuity of care, as discussed at my last appointment." Sinai's switchboard can be infuriating and sometimes they have the wrong info about who is where but persistence is usually rewarded if the first try doesn't work.
posted by Wretch729 at 12:51 PM on July 18
posted by Wretch729 at 12:51 PM on July 18
I would call and leave a message that makes it clear that while it is not urgent, you really want to speak directly with your doctor about some concerns. (Wretch729's "regarding issues related to continuity of care that we discussed at my last appointment sounds" good to me.)
You could try using the messaging system to request the call but you should be clear that you want the reply to be direct, via phone. You want your doctor to be candid about her recommendations in a way that could be difficult if her words are recorded for review by others in the messaging system. Calling to ask for a call back seems more likely to get you what you want.
posted by metahawk at 1:20 PM on July 18
You could try using the messaging system to request the call but you should be clear that you want the reply to be direct, via phone. You want your doctor to be candid about her recommendations in a way that could be difficult if her words are recorded for review by others in the messaging system. Calling to ask for a call back seems more likely to get you what you want.
posted by metahawk at 1:20 PM on July 18
Oh one other thing to consider if you are able to make contact, when our pediatrician moved she gave out an email address for us to reach her at that was not her main personal email. Having an email address feels nice but not over the line personal.
posted by Wretch729 at 1:37 PM on July 18
posted by Wretch729 at 1:37 PM on July 18
If you send a handwritten note in a card to the office, it will get to her. The office staff may open it first, but doctors are people and we like to get nice notes so I would be very surprised if the staff doesn't put it in her inbox.
I agree with others suggesting you check into whether you really need to switch. Finding a good PCP is very hard.
If you do decide you want a recommendation for another PCP from her, I would ask for that through the portal, not in the card (it would be a bit like asking your husband to buy milk in his birthday card).
posted by telegraph at 2:13 PM on July 18
I agree with others suggesting you check into whether you really need to switch. Finding a good PCP is very hard.
If you do decide you want a recommendation for another PCP from her, I would ask for that through the portal, not in the card (it would be a bit like asking your husband to buy milk in his birthday card).
posted by telegraph at 2:13 PM on July 18
You are not logged in, either login or create an account to post comments
If you're insured on an employer sponsored plan, go to your HR and (briefly, simply) explain that your PHP who you've been seeing for years is changing to a practice not covered by your plan, and you'd like to petition the insurer to get an exception. (Even if your HR has never had this request before (they probably have) they are best positioned to get exactly the correct forms and support contact from the carrier.) Follow every instruction you get, submit the paperwork, and cross your fingers. It's rare, but I have seen exception approvals like this before. Never hurts to ask!
Then, yeah, don't overthink it. Just call the office and ask them to have her call you. I don't anticipate this will be a problem. She offered to give you her phone number!! When people offer something it's not overstepping to accept it. It's totally appropriate to ask for this as a patient. Even if you didn't like her and just needed a referral, it's totally appropriate to ask to be called by the doctor providing you care.
posted by phunniemee at 12:01 PM on July 18 [5 favorites]