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Finding a Doctor that Fits: Working Together's the Key to Good Medical Care
Thu, 04/12/2012 - 3:00pm
I could write a book on this topic alone!
The key to good medical care is finding doctors who are capable of integrating multiple types of medical care into their practice. I said this in the plural form because no one doctor can meet a patient's full needs. But patients should interview doctors like you would interview any employee you would hire for your needs. Only hire the one that you think will make a good fit.
All doctors are not alike! And all patients are certainly not alike! If you find the doctor you are seeing is not working for you, you should find another one. However, just because you hear something you don't like does not mean that that doctor is wrong. Don't go looking for a doctor that will always agree with you anymore than having a mother that always agreed with you. Sometimes, we need someone to tell us the real truth, not what we want to hear.
"Joe", a patient of mine, was really anemic. I wanted him to do a gastroscopy and colonoscopy immediately. He said, "No, I've been bad with my weight, my diet and my exercise. Let me fix those first and see if we can clear this up." I said "NO!" I then turned to his wife and told her to set up the appointments that week for him. She did. He had colon cancer. He is well on his way to recovery today.
Integrative medical doctors are very well based in examining multiple alternative treatments to meet their patients needs. Don't get stuck on one area of medicine. Be an educated patient and seek out the best health care. Get second opinions. Do your homework. You'll be glad you did!
Wm. Marcus Spurlock, MD
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"There is no one to blame. There is simply taking action!"........Wm. Marcus Spurlock, MD Dr. Spurlock presently works in Dallas, TX treating people with Chronic Fatigue Syndrome, Fibromyalgia, Bio-Identical Hormone Deficiences and Environmental Illnesses. He has been doing this work exclusively for the last 9 years. In the fall of 2011 he opened a new health center; please visit his website, which is where he posts education beyond what is sprinkled at Lumigrate. http://www.renewedvitalitymd.com/ Through a total body approach, the treatments he and his team provide are 85-90% successful in returning patients to their previous health potential. You can see his complete vitae in Lumigrate's forum "About Our Writers" (link: http://www.lumigrate.com/forum/my-vitae-wm-marcus-spurlock-m...), and the majority of his contributions on Lumigrate are in the FMS/CFS/CPain section, where you'll see a forum which includes his name: http://www.lumigrate.com/forums/health-issuesdis-eases/fibro....
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e-mailThis forum is provided to allow members of Lumigrate to share information and ideas. Any recommendations made by forum members regarding medical treatments, medications, or procedures are not endorsed by Lumigrate or practitioners who serve as Lumigrate's medical experts.
It's wonderful to have this piece on Lumigrate, Dr. Spurlock. Thank you.
This is really a time of so much change for people related to the medical industry that it is helpful to get a doctor's perspective. I had seen the blog, which I'm referencing after the breaker line, below, at KevinMD today and let you know about it because we've now 'communed' on Facebook for about two years and sometimes it appears to me that the people we're trying to help with education don't seem to understand that we've gone to a lot of additional trouble to be where we are today. We didn't 'sell out' the way those who have, essentially, angered them have. I don't know about you, but it makes me feel disheartened sometimes.
I don't want to focus on that, however, just recognize it. I want to focus on the solutions, as you have shared, above.
I will simply say that what you recommend doing for a 'doctor' you do related to finding a therapist or a dentist or, as I call myself, a functional advisor/consultant. (Or a lawyer, accountant, plumber .... anyone who assists you in your life.) When it comes to your health, is anything more important? It's wise to make a shift in how you spend your TIME and ENERGY to invest it in your health and heath care team.
Here's the link to the piece I am referring to and then I'm going to provide a bit of what it's about to give people 'the idea' and hopefully choose to get to know KevinMD. It's a tremendous multi-blogger site. It's funny, some people think what we're doing here at Lumigrate.com is a 'blog' and that is not the case, thought I do have a blog at the blog tab. The forums are actually set up like social media where I invite and encourage topics such as I did here, and there are also the listenable podcasts, viewable video, perusable products. It's really a 'virtual integrative medicine center' and it's wonderful to have an MD like you contributing! It is GRATE! ~~ Mardy
http://www.kevinmd.com/blog/2012/04/stop-mentality-medicine....
Stop the Us versus Them Mentality in Medicine
by RAJKA MILANOVIC GALBRAITH, MD - family physician
Long relying on feedback from not only my patients but also family and friends, I try to continually improve upon how I provide care. A family member points out what they don’t like about a recent office visit and I make a mental note. A patient I referred to a specialist is less than thrilled about the way she was treated, again I make a mental note. Many of my colleagues are much the same in regard to continually improving how they provide care. However, it seems that there has been an increase in patients being disgruntled as if “all” doctors are out to get them.
This led to my comment on stopping the Us vs. Them mentality: Doctors vs. Patients, Allopaths vs. Naturopaths (or alternative medicine providers), and Big Pharma vs. alternative therapies.
I strongly feel that much of this sentiment is because many patients do not have a good working relationship with their doctor. I have been fortunate to enjoy a very rewarding relationship with my patients. ....
.....
Remember, most of us chose this profession out of a calling. Not so we can borrow thousands of dollars to do wrong by a fellow human being. I can think of a lot of ways to make money that don’t include enormous debt and years of sleep deprivation.
The same goes for some naturopaths claiming that we allopaths only push pills. It is an “Us (allopath’s) vs. Them (naturopath) mentality”. Let’s break this down, allopathic medicine by definition (from Wikipedia) refers to the practice of conventional medicine that uses pharmacologically active agents or physical interventions to treat or suppress symptoms or pathophysiologic processes of diseases or conditions. Does it surprise you then that your allopathic doctor would then prescribe medication for your condition?
If you are opposed to medication then don’t see an allopath see a naturopath. If you want the best of both worlds then see a doctor who is practicing integrative medicine or one that is practicing functional medicine. ......
Live and Learn. Learn and Live Better! is my motto. I'm Mardy Ross, and I founded Lumigrate in 2008 after a career as an occupational therapist with a background in health education and environmental research program administration. Today I function as the desk clerk for short questions people have, as well as 'concierge' services offered for those who want a thorough exploration of their health history and direction to resources likely to progress their health according to their goals. Contact Us comes to me, so please do if you have questions or comments. Lumigrate is "Lighting the Path to Health and Well-Being" for increasing numbers of people. Follow us on social networking sites such as: Twitter: http://twitter.com/lumigrate and Facebook. (There is my personal page and several Lumigrate pages. For those interested in "groovy" local education and networking for those uniquely talented LumiGRATE experts located in my own back yard, "LumiGRATE Groove of the Grand Valley" is a Facebook page to join. (Many who have joined are beyond our area but like to see the Groovy information! We not only have FUN, we are learning about other providers we can be referring patients to and 'wearing a groove' to each other's doors -- or websites/home offices!) By covering some of the things we do, including case examples, it reinforces the concepts at Lumigrate.com as well as making YOU feel that you're part of a community. Which you ARE at Lumigrate!
Great post. It's too bad there is this attitude because a good, collaborative relationship with your physician is essential to getting good medical care.
I agree with what Dr. Spurlock has said, maybe patients simply need to take some power back and work as partners with their physicians. If they felt more control, perhaps they would feel less hostile because they'd be getting more of what they wanted.
Martine
I'm an author, patient advocate and speaker. My new book, The Take-Charge Patient: How You Can Get The Best Medical Care, was released 5/2012 www.TheTakeChargePatient.com I lecture, write and publish articles on the issues of patient safety, patient advocacy, the collaborative relationship between patients and medical professionals, effective communication strategies to interact with medical professionals and other health/medical related issues. I hope you benefit and enjoy my being part of things at Lumigrate as much as I do! Also, I am a member of: -HHS, Partnership for Patients -The Society of Participatory Medicine -The National Patient Advocate Foundation -National Healthcare Advocacy Consultants