I have been seeing Dr. Francine Yep at North Oakland Family Practice for the last year +. Although she is a very nice person (which is HUGE after all the amazingly cruel doctors I have seen) she has not been very successful in treating me. Here are the things that are NOT working for me-
It is IMPOSSIBLE to get an apt with her. I book all my 'mantinece' apt's in advance but am only 'allowed' a visit every 3 months. If I have an acute problem, which is often, I have to see a different doctor (most times this is DAYS after the problem). These other doc's do not take any time to read my file and disregard my fibro completely.
I have to 'request' each of my 10+ meds every month. This process is VERY stressful because the office staff there is so overwhelmed w/ patients and my doctor is never there to sign on them! This often results in my having gaps in meds which results in sickness : ( All my efforts to get my meds 3 months at a time have fallen on deaf ears.
She has run out of idea’s to help me and say’s things like 'what are we going to do with you??'
I need a doctor who is going to actually BE THERE for me and help me try different things to treat my Fibro which is progressively getting worse.
Does anyone have a suggestion? I have HMO coverage with Blue Shield and I live in Oakland. I am willing to travel.
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It is IMPOSSIBLE to get an apt with her. I book all my 'mantinece' apt's in advance but am only 'allowed' a visit every 3 months. If I have an acute problem, which is often, I have to see a different doctor (most times this is DAYS after the problem). These other doc's do not take any time to read my file and disregard my fibro completely.
I have to 'request' each of my 10+ meds every month. This process is VERY stressful because the office staff there is so overwhelmed w/ patients and my doctor is never there to sign on them! This often results in my having gaps in meds which results in sickness : ( All my efforts to get my meds 3 months at a time have fallen on deaf ears.
She has run out of idea’s to help me and say’s things like 'what are we going to do with you??'
I need a doctor who is going to actually BE THERE for me and help me try different things to treat my Fibro which is progressively getting worse.
Does anyone have a suggestion? I have HMO coverage with Blue Shield and I live in Oakland. I am willing to travel.
7
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SF Bay Area
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Re: Desperetly seeking new Bay Area Doctor!
Tue, November 20, 2007 - 6:55 PMBlue shield, medi cal?
I'd switch to kaiser,,,for their exquisitely wonderful pain program...but even there self advocacy is important...but there's no bull, and no gaps, and you can see your doc whenever you need too.
I'd research pain clinics, ones with a multidisciplinary approach...ask if they take yer insrance. -
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Re: Desperetly seeking new Bay Area Doctor!
Sat, November 24, 2007 - 4:13 PMThank you. I will definetly look into this.
I actually have been offered kaiser thru my job but stayed covered by my partners insurance (blue shield) because I heard so many bad things about it. Kaiser has a horrible reputation.
Do you know the name of the good pain clinic in the kaiser system? Do you personally go there?
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Re: Desperetly seeking new Bay Area Doctor!
Sat, November 24, 2007 - 8:09 PMKaiser in the 70's and 80's really sucked
things change
All the good docs want to work there now, and kaiser takes away the worries of private practice, and lets them just work.
They don't get hassled by the HMO's for referring you, and you don't have to try and get blue cross to pay...it all...just...happens.
transcripts are complete....2nd opinions easy to get, referrals easy to get, tests...easy to get.
You don't like your doc...switch
the latest procedures...you get...if you ask, and have tried other methods.
they throw drugs at you...hard to get em to stop
they even have their own medical marijuana form
I dunno, I don't see the downside
but I have fought with Blue cross to get something medically necessary.
I would recommend the SF Pain Clinic, or the one in Oakland...I've gone to both. But I only completed the program in Oakland.
Oaklands Multidisciplinary Pain program is great. But some procedures are in Richmond.
If SF also has a multidisciplinary program, at least the procedures are done at same locale. They have good people there.
It depends on your pain issue...both are good -
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Re: Desperetly seeking new Bay Area Doctor!
Fri, November 30, 2007 - 10:26 PMI start the Oakland Program this Tuesday. Wish me luck. I'm at the end of my pain rope. -
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Re: Desperetly seeking new Bay Area Doctor!
Sun, December 23, 2007 - 12:17 PMChuck, how do you feel about the pain program? Is it good for you?
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Re: Desperetly seeking new Bay Area Doctor!
Sat, December 1, 2007 - 9:13 PMI currrently have kaiser through medi-cal.... which basically means medi-cal pays for me to havea membership with kaiser.... the only thing is, is that not all the same things are covered as a regular membership.... they don't pay for chiropractic, dental, or mental health stuff.... other than that, your free and clear.
There is a whole lot of beurocracy that you kinda have to dance around sometimes.... but at this point, I think the majority of us here are pro's at that ;-)
I'm still trying to find the right doc for me, but my mom has been having fabulous success with going to see specialists, and getting tests and stuff... so here's hoping for the same for me.... Also, I have an appointment on the 13th of Dec. to start the chronic pain clinic that we have up here.... Kind of excited about seeing if they have any good ideas..... but am worried that I've been dealing with this for so long, that they won't have anything new to say to me :-( BUT, I hear that they have a wonderful attitude and ways of aproaching tough issues....
Also, a lot of the docs at kaiser are really embracing the internet, and e-mail, and encourage thier patients to e-mail them with questions and refills and all sorts of stuff.... which is WAY better than trying to leave a message with thier answering system.... and they seem to get the messages faster. Also, you can go on-line and see all your test results, and they have explanations for anything you don't understand...
Hope things work out for you.... I hate not being able to comunicate with my own doc... for me thats an absolute MUST... which is exactly why I'm about to fire my current doc and move on to someone with 2 ears and a heart ;-)
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Re: Desperetly seeking new Bay Area Doctor!
Sun, December 23, 2007 - 12:04 PMRemember though the chronic pain clinic is different from the multi disciplinary pain class. That class is key to getting a grip and networking with others. Often when the class ends there are continuing support groups, for free. I am in the Kaiser one on a bi monthly basis. I am so relieved to talk to others that understand my obsticles. Dang I'm fed up with 'think positive' and 'there are many who've overcome disabilities to become great people'. Yeah? And what if I'm not one?...I digress.
Access has great mental health, don't discount it. Plus it goes on far longer then Kaiser would ever approve. They do limited sessions. While access goes as long as needed. And there are some really thoughtful intelligent people inthat system...at least in the Bay Area.
Kaiser doesn't have dental for anyone....so you see... you're better off.
ALSO...The stuff they say they don't pay for you can get them to...IF your doc says it's a necessary treatment that isn't provided. It takes cajones to ask but it can work....I've moved mountains this way! -
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Re: Desperetly seeking new Bay Area Doctor!
Tue, December 25, 2007 - 12:20 AMAlthough it took a long while to get into the Chronic Pain Program, it has given me something I haven't had in years. Hope.
Perhaps I'm one of the lucky ones, but I have a decent relationship with my neurologist, physical therapist, and the psychologist. They seem to be willing to listen and accommodate my needs both physical and psychological. Over the next few weeks we will be deciding what medications and therapies my body is able to handle.
This is MY Christmas gift to myself. Hope. -
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Re: Desperetly seeking new Bay Area Doctor!
Tue, January 1, 2008 - 4:47 PMI hope with you
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Re: Desperetly seeking new Bay Area Doctor!
Sun, December 30, 2007 - 8:46 PMI am new to the forum but inn my 5+ years of dealing with Insurance comp, doc and the like. I am seeing Doctor Nick Gorton, over in SF at Lyon Martin. He has refered me to the Pain Clinic at General Hospital, with their Psyco/social pain management Center. Its supposed to be one of the best in NOCal.
Dr Nicks # at LyMa 415-565-7667. They are all very helpful, insist on Dr Nick though, Hes very open to 'alternative therapies'. Ray the receptionist is esspecial spectacular! she will make the Uiniverse move to make sure you get what you need:)
Good luck, my prayers are with you.
ananda
