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MS SPECIALIST..WHAT IS ONE TO DO?

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    #1

    MS SPECIALIST..WHAT IS ONE TO DO?

    I am not looking to change Neuros but a thought occurred to me that a lot of people suggest we see a MS specialist.

    IN the are I live there is a Neuro Medical Center with approximately 10 Neuro's on staff. The unique thing about this is they all list their self as a MS Specialist.

    Now I ask you how can all the doctors on staff be a Specialist? I actually saw two of the Neuro's there and the only thing they were special at was prescribing the same medication. Two different Neuro's prescribed the exact same medication to me and it had nothing to do with MS. Sounds to me the only thing they are special at is taking kickbacks from BIG PHARMA!!

    Just had to get that off my chest. Something are not what they appear to be!!
    Dx'd 4/1/11. First symptoms in 2001. Avonex 4/11, Copaxone 5/12, Tecfidera 4/13 Gilenya 4/14-10/14 Currently on no DMT's, Started Aubagio 9/21/15. Back on Avonex 10/15

    It's hard to beat a person that never gives up.
    Babe Ruth
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    #2
    I was treated at LSU Medical Center by a MS specialist, Neurology Depth from 2000 -2005. My MS specialist's bio detailed her MS specialist training and education. Tulane, not so much of a good match for me back then. Also there may be a shortage of qualified specialist since '05. Check your doc's bio for 'MS Specialist' years of training.

    Best of luck and take care

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      #3
      Originally posted by MSW1963 View Post
      Also there may be a shortage of qualified specialist since '05.
      Why? Why that time in particular?

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        #4
        Hurricane Katrina flooded the Gulf Coast and New Orleans in 2005. The area where the university, teaching hospitals were located were under water for a few weeks? It took the city and the state a couple of years to settle law suites over funding and establish policy to begin restoring the structures. I'm not sure the pre Katrina population has returned, which affects funding and how hospital permits are awarded, for rebuilding a pre katrina hospital system, and the ability to attract top MS specialist.

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          #5
          I thought to use MS specialist, they had to complete medical training that showed fellowship/ residency in neurology with MS focus. I thought ongoing medical training annually as well.

          I know some will indicate MS area of interest, but can neuro say specialty in MS without education to back it up? If so, scary....
          Kathy
          DX 01/06, currently on Tysabri

          Comment

            #6
            pennstater, that is my understanding too, but it seems some general neurons could be 'fudging' a bit about the extent of their area of specialty based on training/certification versus treating 5 MS patients in their practice, particularly in some small rural areas, and patients who don't know what too look for in a specialist?

            Before I was dx, it was acceptable for a general neuro to hang out the 'shingle' MS specialist if they treated a few MS patients. Within the first year or 2 after I was dx in 2000 the MS Specialist certification became the standard. Maybe there is a fine line between 'specializing in treating x MS patients versus declaring MS Specialist based on education and training exclusively in MS? I don't get it either.

            Comment

              #7
              Originally posted by MSW1963 View Post
              Hurricane Katrina flooded the Gulf Coast and New Orleans in 2005. The area where the university, teaching hospitals were located were under water for a few weeks? It took the city and the state a couple of years to settle law suites over funding and establish policy to begin restoring the structures. I'm not sure the pre Katrina population has returned, which affects funding and how hospital permits are awarded, for rebuilding a pre katrina hospital system, and the ability to attract top MS specialist.

              OMG - I feel SO stupid. Thanks for the explanation.
              But in my defense I had no idea where the university, teaching hospitals were located.

              And on your later post about doctors calling their self "MS Specialist" I totally agree. My neuro lists himself as specializing in MS, but when I pulled up his bio his actual area of expertise is altimers (sp). MS is like 3rd on the list of his 'interests' .
              There are two other neuros in his practice (one of whom I would have preferred to see at the beginning of my MS journey, but he wasn't accepting new patients at the time), but they have some type of policy that a patient cannot switch doctors among the practice .

              I am hoping that the teaching hospital that I have an appointment with this week will be better. I have looked forward to going there for quite a while, even tho the "MS Specialist" is just a NP ... But hey - she had to train under somebody - right?

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