My new one - much my junior - took the never before step of signing his emails and otherwise identifying himself as "Tim". After checking that it really was acceptable to him (he said it was) I reciprocated.

Come to think of it, I've never even gotten an personal email from one of my physicians (the Portal set up so I write to them, sends me replies from a nurse of one sort or another. Do not think the doctors even see most of the messages.)

What's "funny" is he's by far the physician I most respect and trust of any I've encountered since moving to this medically underserved area 35 years ago.

This began recently after I had a traumatic experience whereby I was unable either to get medications refilled (has been an automatic function to date) - worse, was unable to contact him after writing and calling repeatedly in an emergency. (I'd just gotten a catastrophic diagnosis whose treatment conflicted with that of another disorder).

It's commonplace lately to be unable to get an appointment with either ones PCP or a needed specialist without an outrageous wait (some specialists - especially Neurology, ENT and Endocrinology - are booking out almost a year.)

I think after he got wind of my horrific situation. (coincided with family death), he decided to change the footing whereby we interact.

Means so much to me.

(Note that this was began after a lengthy NEXTDOOR thread about the calamitous medical situation locally - a discussion I initiated.). We're one of the many rural communities with full-up hospitals (refusing ambulances), understaffing, and ER waits of up to two days. It's been scary here lately - even other hospitals hours drives away are also full.

What are things like in these regards where you live?

My retina specialist goes by Jack. I was a little surprised when he signed off by first name, but I went with it. Part of the reason I'm on first name basis with many physicians is because my wife is "one of them."

Yes.

My last two were not MDs, they were ARNPs, so calling them "Doctor" was not appropriate.

Yep. But he's been my doc for 20 years.

Mine is relatively new and I don’t see him that often, so it’s Doctor.

quote:

Originally posted by Amanda:


Come to think of it, I've never even gotten an personal email from one of my physicians (the Portal set up so I write to them, sends me replies from a nurse of one sort or another. Do not think the doctors even see most of the messages.)

What are things like in these regards where you live?

You're lucky. I get a text after each visit telling me I can leave my thoughts on their portal, with a link, that has NEVER worked. The hospital has a similar portal. I didn't even bother to follow the link for that one.

My PCP does have an assistant who is really good about calling me letting me know test results, concerns the doc has etc -- even after hours. The doc, a nurse practitioner, is pretty full, and she has three assistants working under her and I like all of them.

My doc called me once, when I went to the trouble of compiling a spreadsheet about something. she was impressed. I call her by her first name.

My younger pcp, who I love, has never invited a first name exchange.

However, my sports medicine doc (genius polymath btw who has done for me what scores of other practicioners could not), who is my age, has invited me to use his first name. Not overtly, as in "call me Phil," but in a more roundabout way, as in, "You will be saying to me, 'Phil,....'"

I have never called him Phil, so this surprised me. But his staff has mentioned that he considers me a friend as much as a patient. We do have long, wide-ranging conversations about many things, from politics to horses, to his personal problems and staffing issues. It has always come across as a great bedside manner, not oversharing. He's like this with my husband, too. A friend who also goes to him has a completely different experience with him. She finds him not at all approachable.

It's gotten to the point that I think about inviting him and his wife (a horsewoman I have ridden with) over for dinner.

I do for my regular docs. If I see some random specialist it’ll be Dr whomever.

My doctor's surname is much easier to pronounce than his given name. So "Dr. [surname]" it is.

Why is anyone still paying for a PCP, with so much free medical advice available on Facebook?

quote:

Originally posted by Doug:
Why is anyone still paying for a PCP, with so much free medical advice available on Facebook?

Being as I have moved, I have a new doc assigned to me via Medicare. Dude’s name is Jamal.

Given how things work these days I doubt I’ll see him much and I’ll call him whatever he calls himself.

Sure, I've done that forever.

All first names for doctors are "doc" and I use that all the time.

No.