PD center wants me to change neph

[Willis]

There is a PD center just a few miles from my home that would be very convenient and they also use Baxter. Only issue is that they are connected with a specific nephrology practice and said I'd have to use one of their nephs. I don't really have a big issue dealing with a new doctor, but I REALLY like my current neph even though I have to drive almost an hour to the opposite side of the city to see him. He's been my neph for 6 years.

Of course I will ask this doctor myself, but has anyone here have any experience with TWO doctors cooperating? If the new one monitors my PD would it be unusual for my current neph to still be my primary?

 

[lmunchkin]

When hubby went to PD clinic, his neph. was part of the neph group, but did not commonly practice at the PD clinic. But what we use to do is schedule with PD clinic and they would fax info to Neph he was use to. And we would see neph at her office.  It worked out fine for us. Maybe your clinic would be willing to do that.  Hubby just wasnt willing to give her up. Like you, she has been with him from the very start.

  lmunchkin

[billybags]

I know what you mean. We had the same PD nurse for two years and she came once a month to take bloods and looked after the other problems, she had to move districts and we have had a new nurse. She is very nice but we miss the other one, she became like family. Our neph is a wonderful man, we have had him for over two years and I would hate to lose him. Feel for you.

[Willis]

An interesting update.

I had an appt with my "old" neph today, wondering if this would be the last one. Turns out my "new" neph was a former associate of his. "New" had left the practice a few years ago for apparently some internal political reasons and "old" had been one of the few supporting her. When "new" left to start her own practice, "old" was a silent mentor and he said he still communicates with her frequently and considers her a personal friend and has her cell number on speed dial. (Consider that I'm in a large metro area with 40-50 nephrologists practicing in this region.)

So it looks like I might really be able to have two nephs willing to work together as a team as awkward as that may sound. 
 

[phyl1215]

Great news...

[noahvale]

**

[Willis]

Yes, the quality of the center is more important than distance. The one that is close seems more modern and "welcoming" than the others I visited that are much farther away and in...to be blunt here...less desirable parts of the city. Even my old neph says when he visits the nocturnal HD center that he drives an old car and never dresses "like a doctor."

I can see the potential for conflict between the MDs so the "new" neph will definitely be the MD of record for my dialysis treatments. That's the way it would be if I just switched over. The fact that my "old" neph seems to be comfortable with the new situation just seems I can still have him as a resource for a second opinion if necessary.

Now if I can get both nephs on the transplant team that might be a way to speed things up there too...?