Doctors

The April issue of Esquire features a Q and A with Dr. Mehmet Oz called "The Lightning Round" — as in, if you had the good doctor cornered at a party, what burning questions would you ask him? One of the questions was: What's the single most important thing to look for in a doctor? Dr. Oz's answer: Choose a doctor like you, or who treats other people like you.

Obviously there are other considerations, like which doctors are nearby and covered by your insurance. But a physician who treats other patients in your age range will be well-versed in the issues you might face. Even better, Oz adds, "you want your doctor to be around your age or younger (unless you're 17). That way you can have a doctor for life, and that continuity is a big help in diagnosing and predicting problems as you age."

I definitely appreciate that my doctor treats other patients around my same age, so this seems like a smart idea. What do you think? Is your doc in your peer group?

Source

Doctor preference is a highly personal thing, but we often rely on others for recommendations because there are just so many docs to choose from. With this in mind, Zagat has taken its restaurant guide business into the brand new realm of health care providers. The respected restaurant reviewer has teamed up with insurance giant WellPoint to compile a guide based on the company's customer reviews.

Physicians are rated on things like trust and communication, then the comments are translated into scores, which are currently accessible to two million WellPoint and Anthem customers. Nina Zagat said the reviews are not meant to be the primary resource in choosing a doctor, but should be used to evaluate a group of specialists recommended by your physician.

Several doctors have reacted with concern, responding with comments that WellPoint is "treating medical care provided by dedicated and caring physicians as if we were preparing a meal," and reviewing doctors is a "recipe for disaster."

Would you like it if this idea expanded or do you think reviewing doctors is a bad idea?

Source

Since I've been spending my fair share of time in doctor's offices lately, I've picked up a few parenting tips. The other day, I saw a cute little girl walk into the pediatrician's waiting room all dressed up in scrubs. As she chatted with my wee one, I was able to ask her mother about her daughter's ensemble.

Like many youngsters, her daughter hated visiting the doctor for fear of shots. To help her overcome her fear, the smart mama bought the girl some scrubs of her own. Now when she has an appointment, she gets to play doctor with the pros and has a sense of camaraderie with them instead of animosity.

And, they make great pajamas or costumes for the Halloween holiday.

According to Redbook magazine, women are not exactly being truthful to their doctors. Whether it's because they're embarrassed, don't want to get lectured, or don't want to be judged, women are bending the truth a bit in the exam room. Female patients may also fear that revealing certain details of their lives will make them seem like "bad patients" and that their doctor won't give them the best care. Women tend to be people pleasers. It's not that they want to be deceptive, but want to make their doctors happy. However, it may be at the expense of their own health. Here are the top five lies women tell the person in the white coat:

1. "I'm not a big drinker."It's important to be truthful since a high consumption of alcohol is linked to breast cancer. Also, when your doctor prescribes medications, drinking too much alcohol can cause complications or risky side effects.
2. "I don't smoke." We all know we shouldn't smoke, so we don't need our doctors telling us not to, right? Or we think, "I only smoke when I drink, so it's not a big deal." Well it doesn't matter what you tell your doctor because as soon as she examines you, she'll know you smoke since nicotine stains the inside of your nose. Smoking causes premature wrinkling, lung cancer, and it also raises your risk for stroke when using the pill, so women need to be truthful with their doctor about this one.

To see the last three lies read more

Back in my mother's day, expectant women depended heavily on their OB/GYNs. Mothers–to–be assumed their doctor would deliver their baby — not the on–call physician. In Knocked Up, Katherine Heigl's character interviewed numerous doctors and laid out her demands and expectations. I took a laid back approach with my doctor and it didn't pay off.

I had an easy first pregnancy — I dodged morning sickness and was agile for the entire nine months. As a result, I didn't have to rely on my OB/GYN for urgent phone calls or emergencies. She was a smart doctor with an affable bedside manner, a fitting match for my personality. Unfortunately, she didn't make it to my delivery, which was upsetting. More than that I was disappointed when she didn't stop by to see me after the birth or during any part of my hospital stay.

To see how I solved the problem, read more

As moms, we think we know best. And, sometimes we do. But, pediatrician Barney Softness dished out doctor advice to the New York Times that no parent should ignore.

Topping his list, he said:

• Don’t make promises you may not be able to keep. While parents will want to reassure a child who is afraid of needles, it is far worse to make a promise the doctor cannot keep. Then you have lost trust. I may look at the child’s record and discover she is due for a vaccination. A promise of no needles would mean coming back another time — and the anticipation of coming back for a shot prolongs the agony. Focus on the positives when you are trying to reassure your child about a doctor visit — a favorite toy in the waiting room, the stickers we give at the end of the visit, or the trip to the playground after the appointment.

To see the rest of his recommendations, read more

You may think this story is stolen straight from an episode of Grey's Anatomy, but this really happened. My friend called last night and told me this whole saga from beginning to end. I still can hardly believe it.

She's a brand new mom to a three–week–old baby boy. And, has been feeling some pain down south — even her stitches. But, since she was on meds for the first postpartum week, she didn't notice anything odd. During her second week, she assumed it was normal to still feel sore.

This week, however, she started to notice a strange odor and increasing pain and figured something wasn't right. So, she called her doctor yesterday and explained her condition. The OB/GYN told her to come in. To find out what happened, read more