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Primary Care Physician recommendations in Chicago area

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    Primary Care Physician recommendations in Chicago area

    Hi everyone! I'm looking for a new primary care physician--my former one left the practice, and looking for recommendations. Is anyone in the Chicago area--western or southwestern suburbs? I've found it's difficult to find a PCP who is able to handle a patient with a complicated medical history. (MS & Myasthenia). Anyone have any suggestions?

    Thanks!
    "I know God will not give me anything I can't handle. I just wish that He didn't trust me so much."
    ~Mother Teresa

    #2
    I'm sorry that no one has given you a recommendation yet, so I'm bumping this up for you. Hopefully, someone in that area will come along to share.
    1st sx '89 Dx '99 w/RRMS - SP since 2010
    Administrator Message Boards/Moderator

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      #3
      Hope someone comes along. Another thought, can your neuro recommend someone? From working with PCPs, could be someone that sticks out.

      Lots of luck. I know mine will retire soon. Not looking forward to finding a new one.
      Kathy
      DX 01/06, currently on Tysabri

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        #4
        My neurologist is in Chicago, about 1 - 1/2 hour drive, depending on traffic. I've asked him before to recommend someone, and I'm sure they're probably good doctors. But I need an primary care doctor who is closer to home. Someone in the suburbs would be better, so I can see them quicker when I'm sick. My former doctor left the practice, and the doctor that took over for her isn't accessible. If I need an appointment, it's usually about a month wait to get in. The couple times I've called for an appointment when I was sick, (once for bronchitis, and once for diverticulitis) they just told me to go to urgent care if I needed to be seen sooner. I'm hoping to find a doctor, so I don't have to rely on urgent care all the time. But I'm hoping to get some recommendations, so I don't have to just pick a name off a list.
        "I know God will not give me anything I can't handle. I just wish that He didn't trust me so much."
        ~Mother Teresa

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          #5
          Hello Beth,

          Some thoughts on choosing a primary care physician…

          1. Location! … according to a U of Michigan study the further away your PCP is the greater your disease burden.

          2. You may want a female doctor … a Harvard study showed that patients 65 and older treated by a female doctor have lower mortality and hospital readmission rates. Also, choosing a doctor of the same sex may assist better communication for some if they feel more comfortable speaking to a doctor of the same sex.

          3. Do you have a preferred hospital? Make certain that your PCP has privileges at that facility. It can only help in maintaining continuity with medical records and your doctor will be knowledgeable about any specialists you may need at that facility.

          4. Perhaps, choose a younger doctor; one unlikely to retire and leave you having to search for a replacement.

          5. Choose a perspective doctor and schedule an interview to see if that person is a good fit for you.

          6. Make sure you can see your PCP on short notice, if needed. A doctor familiar with you will be more valuable than one at an urgent care who knows little about you.

          7. IMO, a mediocre doctor who meets the above criteria, especially one who can schedule you in right away if need be, is far more valuable to PwMS than an eminently qualified doctor who can’t see you for a month.

          8. Beth, your present doctor, or someone on his/her staff is poorly informed about diligence in dealing with MS. PwMS need to be seen right away if an infection threatens them. 75% of PwMS die because of aspiration pneumonia or septicaemia from UTIs. Infections can kill, especially in MS. A PCP is negligent if they are not on top of infections in patients with MS.

          Bottom line… IMO, a younger female doctor, located as close as possible to you, having privileges at the hospital you use, within your insurance coverage, one with a pleasant staff which communicates well, a doctor who understands she must see you right away occasionally, would be a good choice. JMHO. Good Luck!

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            #6
            Hi Beth - here's a link called Healthgrades that rates Drs (with reviews and what kind of insurance they take) in your area. Perhaps this will help narrow the search down a bit. https://www.healthgrades.com/usearch...4371&pageNum=1

            Good luck!
            1st sx '89 Dx '99 w/RRMS - SP since 2010
            Administrator Message Boards/Moderator

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