Starting some years ago I had kidney stones. The urologist I got hooked up with was great, I had him overseeing my kidney’s health(and the demise of one kidney). He always seemed sympathetic and concerned and I trusted him completely.
Not quite two years ago he retired. Aaaagh! So the last couple of times I’ve been to that office another doctor in the same practice has seen me.
He’s not a bad guy but he seems not to have the concern my previous doctor had. And he has a very thick accent that, to me, is sometimes hard to understand. When listening to him talk I have to pay very close attention or I’ll miss something.
Today I went to the urologist’s office to speak to the nurse, because I’ve been having some “irritation”, as I’ll call it, that’s suddenly got worse. I thought maybe I would need a urinalysis. Turns out after my last visit, since nothing more needed to be done then, the doctor had released me to my primary physician, so anything wrong needed to start with that. I didn’t remember that, if I’d ever been told it, and ask the nurse, “Does that mean I’m not a patient here anymore?”, and with an irritated expression she said “No, you just have to be referred by “Dr. B”, and anyway, “Dr. C” here is on vacation this week”
I was a little hurt, and left. I’ve been with that office for a very long time, and lately I’ve been treated like a number, not a human being.
It makes me want to seek out another urologist, but I’m not sure if I should. I can’t complain of the actual care in the last visits, but I’m not very happy with how I seem to be regarded now. And changing is not assurance that the next doctor will be any nicer. If I was serious I might ask my cousin, who’s a nurse in both of the big hospitals in town, and seems to know everything about the local medical scene. I trust her enough that she’s the person on my medical power of attorney, she’s not a scrap sentimental.
What do Dopers think? Is it proper to switch doctor’s after a long association? Or should I at least explore the possiblity of finding another urologist?