scilly

..... even if it is in the same practice you've been going to.

Made an appointment last month to get new prescriptions. New resident in the program, but very efficient, said "I want to see you in 4 weeks."

I went this afternoon, a special long appointment ...... carefully told by the receptionist when she phoned to make it "It isn't a complete physical, but .....".

So spent 3 weeks occasionally wondering what it was. Turned out to be a series of questions, based on the computerized patient programme BC now uses, so he was carefully checking my patient history as we went along.

Have you ever had a bone scan? Yes, about 20 years ago

Hmmmmm, you should be having it about every 10 years. I did ask back then, and was told "we wait until you've broken a bone before sending you for a bone scan now". He laughed at that.

Have you had a CT scan of your chest? No

Hmmmmm, it's about 30 years since you quit smoking, we should do one now.

Have you had a tetanus injection recently? Never had one

Hmmmmm, you should have one every 10 years.

Have you had the pneumococcus vaccination? YES!

Have you had the poo test recently? Not for 2 years

Hmmmmm

Have you had a gastroscopy recently? Not for 2 years.

Hmmmmm, maybe we should send you for another one

Guess I'm about to be referred for all of them except the pneumonia one!

Plus ............

"Oh Yes, you need a new prescription to replace that Ranitidine as it has been recalled."

and ...........

"Make an appointment for early November and I'll give you the flu shot, the tetanus vaccine and do a chest exam".

scrubbedexpat091

"computerized patient programme "

What is that exactly? Haven't had a doctor use such a program unless you mean just the electronic record keeping?

Yeah a new doctor can be a pain, guess upside to a doctor in learning is they might want to explore more, be more in-depth vs a doctor in private practice who might spend 10 minutes per visit, but not ask much about prior history, and seems you would have needed multiple appointments if you had my doctor since she only does 1 issue per appointment generally speaking....lol

I have 4 appointments this month to discuss 5 different things, hoping to fit in 2 items into my appointment tomorrow.

As doctors offices tend to charge to get copies of medical records, my records are all over the place in multiple city's and different doctors, my current doctor records only go back to 2017, anything past that she has no record of.

BristolUK

I liked getting my 'extra' doctor. About 4 years ago I was referred to a kidney doc after a kidney stone and to keep an eye on my kidney function.

I'm not overly keen on my family doc. He's good at the basics but never remembers anything and doesn't greatly inspire confidence.

I was very impressed at my first appointment with the specialist doc. Quite a thorough check. Terrible cackle of a laugh though, like a witch.

scrubbedexpat091

I always found specialists to be good from the experience I have had. My previous GP was good, he always remembered what he was treating for, he also booked in 15 minute blocks which was nice. My current GP have to explain each visit what she is treating for, and why and takes her a good chunk of time to scroll through the records from previous visit etc, I am not super confident in her skills, but not many doctors accepting patients so not like you really get much choice in your GP, end up getting whoever you find accepting patients who will take you as a patient.

scilly

I got my first appointment(s) .......

............ the CT scan of my lungs. It's a programme to follow up on smokers who quit 5-40 years ago, and are over 55. Interview for 2 hours on Nov 22, CT scan on Nov 23.

Plus have discovered that the Resident I saw has about 5 years of experience after getting his medical degree in India. He's Canadian, but has to go through the Foreign Residents Programme because his degree is from overseas. I thought he had more experience than a recent grad!

scilly

I apologise if I used the wrong term, so you didn't understand me.

Yes, it is OSCAR ............ which has been in use at the practice I go to since its first inception.

The great thing is that OSCAR is linked to all the medical facilities that support it .............. not all doctors nor facilities have yet signed o/joined the system.

scrubbedexpat091

No worries that makes sense. My current doctor uses that well that is what all the lab requisitions have on the top anyhow so I assume she is using it....lol

My other 2 GP's didn't though so she doesn't have access to those records. I tried to get my ON records but it was going to cost so much, I never did.