Need advice on local doctor

Having been a consultant to most of the primary care offices around, I can tell you that being a wise consumer is the best medicine of all. If you don't feel that your provider listens to you, choose someone who fits your style. The days when the Doctor was 100% in charge are long gone. You have rights and responsibilities. And, since it's your health, you should find someone you can work with for your best interests. You have to decide.

Do you want a world-class cardiologist to treat you, yet you are unwilling to modify your lifestyle? If not, why waste the time and money. If you depend on a pill to undo the effects of diet and sedentary exercise, don't blame the drug companies for making one, the doctor for prescribing it, and a pharmacy from charging top dollar for it. Lifestyle affects the majority of disease states we face. And we have to make appropriate choices, knowing this.

And, FWIW, the letters MD hold no position above a DO. Doctors of Osteopathy are trained using a different approach. All US DO's have graduated from a track of education that is 99% the same as the allopathic (MD) track. Both types have to pass a rigorous examination in order to practice. DO's are fewer in number here than in other states. They are just as qualified to practice medicine.

An old joke (with a large grain of truth in it) goes like this. What do they call the person who graduates LAST in his or her class in medical school? Ans..Doctor.

Locally, David Meehan, DO is an exceptional physician, as are Charles Williams, MD and Brian Harris, MD. Wanda Godfrey, MD, at the Urgent care building (her practice is separate from the UC) is another great doc.
YMMV

 

I second Wanda Godfrey.

 

If you want someone who treats you with respect and with GENUINE concern, I would not suggest dr. david meehan...some may like him, but myself and others in my family have not.

 

Kathleen (I can't think of her last name...Robertson, Robinson???) is the FNP (Family Nurse Practicioner) and if they can push you off onto her, they will. I don't like Dr. Capps in that office either. I needed a refill on an inhaler that Dr. Joan had been refilling for me for several years, and all of a sudden, she is out of the office when CVS contacted them for the refill and he said I'd had too many refills and needed to see an allergy specialist! I called them, and the FNP and I had it out because I didn't even know who this jerk was to be over-riding Dr. Joans prescriptions to me and just deciding not to refill my rx when he hadn't even seen me! I only see Dr. Joan, unless I'm desperately walking-in without an appt.

 

Ditto Charles Williams at Horizon. My kids take whoever is there, my wife likes Rhonda Davis. Never have a problem getting in, never wait too long, What more do you want? (that WAS rhetorical!)

 

Great selection of physicians

Based on this thread I would say that we have a great list of highly qualified physicians in the area. That is great news. Back in the late 40's and early '50's we had Dr. Yates and Dr. Cole to chose from in Clayton. That was it and very few took the trip to Wake County for medical care unless we were referred to a specialist.

 

Ah, isn't it nice to see the positive things that growth can bring.

 

Dr. Capps :? .

I had to go to UC yesterday. Went to the Wake one :? .

Giving up on docs all together :evil: !

Frogger

 

Dr Capps is the one I was thinking. We don't see him anymore. And Kathleen R. is the one I had a round with when she wouldn't give me my 16 yr old daughters test results because she didn't think my daughter wanted me to have them. my daughter didn't even know. anyway, we finally got that cleared up and she called me a home and apologized.

 

And Dr. Bass. He had to ***** my finger once when I was about 5 (another word for sticking me with a needle). He promised it wouldn't hurt but it did... I didn't know any cuss words so I called him a dirty old man.

 

A friend of mine went to Dr. David Meehan some time ago. He told me that he felt as if Meehan didn't hardly want to examine you like most docs should. Routine exam was more like playing twenty questions. I personally don't want a doctor that acts like he's afraid to touch you.

 

I am curious to know if Dr. Williams and Dr. Dawkin's offices are pushing the HPV <Gardasil> vaccine. I was at Clayton Peds today and could not believe the huge ... smack you in the face ...poster board size sign on the door in the waiting room AND 8x11 signs in the exam rooms pushing this vaccine. The signs were awfully misleading as they did not mention anything about the vaccine's primary purpose to prevents STDs, the lack of research on the long-term effectiveness and effects NOR the recent warning of the negative side effects being reported by girls who have had the shot. I have not done enough research on this vaccine to know if my daughters will one day receive it but do know I want a doctor who will present ALL the facts and not just advertise for a pharmaceutical company or his own personal agenda. We're looking for a new doctor.

http://www.909shot.com/Diseases/HPV/pr022107HPV.htm

 

I won't go to any doctors in the Clayton/Garner area anymore. I go all the way to Cary to Gibbons Family Medicine. It's a little farther than I want to travel, but I've always gotten quality, hands on service. Both Dr. Gibbonses (husband and wife team) are sincere and thorough and have fit me in at the last minute.

 

I didn't see any signs at Dr. Dawkin's office, and I was just there last week. Matter of fact, I don't think I've ever seen any signs promoting a drug or vaccine there.

 

I haven't seen any signs up at Dr. Williams' office either promoting it, and he didn't mention it to us when we were in there a couple weeks ago for the baby's 4 month shots. He's not really one to push things like that either, but I'm sure if you asked him, he'd tell you what his true opinion is on it.

 

Medical Facility

I suggest going to Dr. Wanda Godfrey at Wake urgent care and Family Practice. She is an outstanding Doctor and has been in practice for some time. The urgent care is also very good with the PA Reza Hatefi. They also have a Medi Spa, that does Laser Hair removal and facials and Stuff.
New Image I think is the name.
But Dr. Godfrey is Awesome!

 

Me to PG. We've been going to Garner Family since we moved here in 1999. Last year, I went to see them because I was having some weird dizzy spells. I suspected inner ear problems, which I've had before. I didn't get to see a doctor...had to see a nurse "practioner" instead. When I said I wanted to see a doctor, I was told "this is the way we do it now."

She did a few balance tests, asked a few questions, and the next thing I know, she insists I go have a brain MRI that evening...she refused to tell me what she was looking for, but insisted it couldn't wait. Talk about terrifying. On top of that, she also said my EKG showed that I had a heart attack recently. I asked again to talk to a doctor and she handed me my schedule card for my MRI and said one would call me. No doctor had called by the time I had to leave to go get the MRI, and when I called them, they just took a message.

Needless to say, I was a basket-case.

Brain MRI was fine. Not one thing out of the ordinary. The cardiologist they sent me to said that while I have an ugly EKG, that's not uncommon. He did an Echo and said my heart was as strong and healthy as it could be. No signs of the alleged "heart attack."

The dizzy spells went away in a few weeks and my new doctor said it was probably either inner ear or peri-menopausal hormonal fluctuations. She was furious when I told her what this "practioner" put me through emotionally...all for nothing. She said doctors are hearing more and more from new patients who have gone through the same kind of scare as a result of "practioners" being used to replace doctors.

 

NP's go through quite an impressive and rigorous medical training process. They have much more clinical exposure than PAs. Both were designed to be physician EXTENDERS, targeted towards the 'minor' issues that a patient presents, versus the need for the physician intervention.

As with every profession, there are those at the top and those below. I know NPs that I prefer over some physicians.

PA's normally have some clinical experience and go through a specific medical education process as well.

I know of Mr. McCann from our National Guard service. He is a great guy, and well qualified. But, he is not a doctor. The earlier post referring to him as one, or as "Doc" was incorrect.

It comes down to taking personal charge of your healthcare. If you want a physician to see you, you have some rights. You can always find another physician, if your needs are not being met.

I am constantly amazed at how normally forward thinking people who aggressively protect their interests wilt at the doctor's office. They end up taking a load of crappola from the staff.

If you don't want to be treated by a PA or an NP, let the office know beforehand. Have them note it in your chart. And tell the doctor how you feel and why. Understand that occasionally, one might see you, if the doc is on vacation, at hospital, etc. If you have made reasonable efforts to make sure that your accommodations will me net, chances are that they will be.

 

thank you

You have all been quite helpful. Thank you so much. Please read my link about the bad experience I had with Doctor's Urgent care on 70. I had a bad flare of my psoriatic arthritis in my spine while I was researching finding a new GP. What a nightmare!

http://4042.appcomm.net/4042forums/showthread.php?t=11620

 

Just curious... but who did you choose and what do you think of them?
PM me if ya don't want it on the board... or don't, I don't mean to pry
I haven't decided who to go to yet.