Centers and Doctors

[Rerun]

This sounds strange to me so I want to see what others have.

Our DaVita dialysis centers have a doctor that is the director.  That is the only doctor you can see unless you are a Kaiser patient.

So, I hate my doctor.  The only thing I can do is switch centers and get what I get there.

In my mind.... I have a right to the center I choose and the doctor I choose.

How is it at your center?  Do you have a choice of docs?

[boxman55]

our center North East Wisconsin Dialysis Center uses Doctors from the local health care provider. which is Advanced Health Care the Nepth Doctor that I always had is still my clinic Doctor, our Hemo centers director is a Nurse not a Doc. Boxman

[jbeany]

My neph is the only one practicing in about a 300 mile radius.  He runs between 3 centers spread out across 3 different counties.  Guess it's a good thing I like him most of the time - I don't have a choice unless I move.

[thegrammalady]

my center has a nurse director and her boss (over more than one center) is a doctor. each patient sees his/her own doctor. my doctor or his partner stop by every week.

[glitter]

my husbands center has a director who might be a nurse, (I'm not sure), there are three clinics privately owned but nonprofit, all the patients see their own doctors,
my husband has a terrific neph who comes once or twice a week. Plus we can call him anytime we have a question. If he ever decides to do NXstage he will have to switch to the  Davita clinic, but his neph said he would still be his DR.

[Jill D.]

My neph sent me to the dialysis unit where he does his rotations. I would either see him, another neph in his practice, or his nurse practitioner. However, since I was the oddball that only went 2x a week - Tues and Friday - and on the 4 - 8 pm shift, I was often out of rotation and got "missed".
The director at my center was a nurse.

[Black]

If you don't like the neph at your current clinic, can you "interview" the one at the other clinic to see if you want to change?

Since Mike started dialysis he sees the neph at the clinic.  He likes him.

The neph he was seeing before he started dialysis said he would be glad to see him if he has a problem, since the clinic is 200 miles away.  He liked him too, but much better after we educated him about PKD and NxStage.

[keefer51]

At my clinic we have three Neph. One of them comes around every Wednesday. They spend the normal minute or two with us and leave. One of the Neph. is leaving and opening up his own clinic. Allot of us don't know what to do. The nurses and techs all received a bonus to stay. I wouldn't mind one of those!

[kitkatz]

I want a bonus if I stay.  Sheez! At the other clinic I was at I had veteram patient status.   The doctors come around and look at me and say Are you doing okay?  Ususally I am and my bloodwork looks good. So they move on fairly quickly.  God help the doc that finds me in a bad mood the day they come by.

[Rerun]

Thanks everyone!



                   

[livecam]

My center had three staff physicians, two of whom were part owners.  They each made rotations at different times.  I would typically see one of them at least twice a week.  I had no preferences because they were all professional, likable, and accommodating guys.

[Jannie]

I only see my neph in center. If I'm lucky, either one of the doctors or a nurse practitioner will come and talk with me on Thursday mornings. Other than that, I can't see my nephrologist. I think this system stinks.

[groggy]

Hi Rerun,
Davita, as well as other dialysis units can allow any Doctor they want in their unit. The doctor must fill out an application and be accepted.
With that being said, they usually deny all other physicians except the ones they have a primary contract with. As usual it's about the money and politics.  As they see it, their unit is privately owned so they can accept or deny any doctor or patient for that matter.  The regulatory agencies see this as legal. Their take is that you have the freedom of choice to move to a center that your doctor is allowed. This is true with nursing homes too.

I've seen patients move to other centers because of this and quite honestly, it may have saved their lives. Put your health first, if you think you are not getting your health needs met start looking for another doctor if you don't have one or find out which centers your desired doctor is allowed  and have him help you get in where he/she has privileges.

As a cancer patient myself and a long time medical social worker don't assume all doctors are good.  My cancer was passed over for years due to several idiots minimizing my symptoms. People with chronic illnesses must have a doctor they can trust. It impacts our quality of life. 

[bdpoe]

This subject has been one that has been giving me fits for some time.
It seems that in my town there are two primary (big) Nephrologists groups.
One group of Nephs are the medical directors of Fresenius/BMA and the other group
handles Gambro/Duhvita. There are a few independant Nephrologists from India and Asia.

At Gambro, I Never saw the doctor who was the medical director, I saw a nurse practitioner
once a month as she, the dietitian and the social worker made the rounds. The Nurse practitioner
never took notes something which I angrily chastised her for after 3 visits.

Well, certain clinics insisted you be accepted by their Nephrologists who can turn you down.

I walked into a clinic near my apartment trying to find out how to get treatments there and
was told "you have to have your Nephrologist do this for you"

I asked if there wasnt someone (like the social worker) whom I could talk briefly with to get some info,
and that person was out at another one of the locations.

I do think that money and the type of Insurance are a factor.

Stuck with Medicare and no secondary and no cash and you are screwed in Florida.

The sad fact is that in Florida there is an underhanded way in which you can be denied dialysis.

Patients I have met have drifted from city to city to find a center and Neph that can adequately meet their needs.

Some have died.

....bd

[Krisna]

I chose my doctor!  My kidney center is part of Northwest Kidney Centers and I have been a member of them since I was real young.  They are the closest ones to where I live.  I chose my doctor and I picked a good one, but he doesn't ever come into my unit!  He is linked by computer to the computers at my unit so he is kept up to date on my health!  I have one of Seattle Magazine's top 100 doctors for the last couple years.  My transplant surgeons are also on that list!  I understand the problem, though.  I used to belong to Group Health and they have their own dialysis unit and everything.  So, it all depends on where you're at. 

I got my doctor after being kicked off my dads' insurance when I was 23.  I asked the social worker at my kidney center to recommend someone to me!  If you're unhappy with your doctor, you should talk to your social worker abt it!