Re: Shortage of doctors

pdlinda · ‎10-23-2011

@ThinkingOutLoud I would certainly agree with you; HOWEVER, in my experience, naturopaths do not normally accept payment from Medicare or any standard insurance carriers.

I went to a naturopath and had to pay out of pocket.

ThinkingOutLoud · ‎05-01-2020

@pdlinda wrote:
@ThinkingOutLoud I would certainly agree with you; HOWEVER, in my experience, naturopaths do not normally accept payment from Medicare or any standard insurance carriers.

I went to a naturopath and had to pay out of pocket.

Yes, but you don't have the long wait for an appt and they deal with the root cause of the issue and don't just focus on band-aids.

pdlinda · ‎10-23-2011

@goldensrbest I have a medicare advantage plan through United Healthcare. It offers Teledoc and another telemed provider where I can have an immediate consult with a board certified doctor for the same co-pay I would pay for an in-person visit.

When you signup with the app (on phone,tablet or PC/Ipad), you submit your med history and same type of info you would provide to any doc before your first visit.

Perhaps your mother's insurance has something like that?? If they do, I'm sure they could arrange for you to do any clerical work for her and provide it to the telehealth doc from your location.

Also, maybe your mother has a local neighbor/friend who could assist her (if needed) to take advantage of such a video visit? That way she could show the provider doc the rash you're describing and, after reading her med history that's provided, the tele-med doc would be able to treat her.

Good Luck!

pdlinda · ‎10-23-2011

@ThinkingOutLoud I completely agree with you IF her mother can afford the fee and follow-up visits that perhaps would be required.

We rescue cats · ‎01-25-2023

Specialists can be really tough to find and book an appointment with. My Endocrinologist is 50 miles away and I see him every 4th appointment. My rheumatologist I see every 6 months. Both of them have wonderful PAs, I'm comfortable with them and have complete faith in them. I love my family doc, she takes her time and is very thorough, she is very hand's on.

Critter Lover! (especially cats!)

RedTop · ‎09-01-2010

@goldensrbest

I feel sure the nurse practitioner can take care of this issue; I see no reason for your mother to be taken to other providers.

Yeast infections on the skin do not clear up quickly, and the very site of your mothers infection makes her situation trickier. It is hard to dry that rash in an area that is usually moist. Treatment is going to take awhile, and there must be diligence with keeping that skin clean, dried, and treated.

There is NO way my 88 year old mother could handle treating this type of skin infection on her own; she needs assistance with bathing, and could never follow instructions to apply a topical ointment as needed. Our older relatives are more prone for these infections since they tend to bathe or shower less often once there are mobility issues.

Your mother may simply need more help with the hands on treatment; not necessarily a medical doctor or specialist.

granddi · ‎03-16-2010

@chrystaltree wrote:
The nurse practioner should be able to help her as well as any doctor can. NP's can do anything a doctor can do.

Just for the sake of discussion: Why would our medical system need the MD/DO speciality of general medicine or family medicine since NP and PA are licensed to care for all that these DR's are doing?

Also off topic, but I just read that 10% of medical school grads are unable to be placed in residency programs. One of the main issues is that these teaching hospitals are funded in large part by medicare/medicaid funding. States are cutting back on medicaid participation.

KathyM23 · ‎11-20-2010

I also get frequent red outbreaks under breasts. Sometimes classified as Intertrigo that is skin irritation caused from skin to skin friction (breasts laying on skin underneath). Also can occur anywhere skin laying against skin. This looks and feel iike a yeast infection. A bane of us with large breasts as we age. I combat this by wearing when I sleep a size large white mens tee shirt tucked under breasts so they dont contact skin while sleeping.

Yeast infections occur this way also and these conditions often exist together - Yeast and Intertrigo. My dermatologist prescribes Hydrocortisone Creme 2.5% for Intertrigo and Ketoconazole 2% for Yeast. Can use both at the same time when necessary

I agree with @RedTop your mom may need help with proper application of the meds she has been prescribed. My instructions from Derm for the two I mentioned are 2 x day on clean, dry skin for 10 days.

I would make the appointment with the Derm even if it is 4 months away so she will be a established patient, much easier to get a timely appointment then. Also easier to get appointments for other members of your family if the need arises. This may be an ongoing issue with your Mom and it sure doesn't hurt to have the Derm check for problem moles,etc annually that is paid for by Medicare.

I have had two other skin issues that Physician was unsure of and Derm was able to take care of immediately. Sure doesn't hurt to have a
Derm handy when needed.

Tori3569 · ‎06-27-2010

I also think a telemed visit might be a good solution @goldensrbest . You may even be able to arrange one that can add you in on the visit so you know what is being said.