Sender: |
|
Subject: |
|
From: |
|
Date: |
Wed, 3 May 1995 23:30:21 -0400 |
Reply-To: |
|
Parts/Attachments: |
|
|
Hello, everyone: Just a quick comment from a family physician who often has
to deal with disgruntled patients who just need to see me in order to get a
referral to a specialist. In most cases, family physicians diagnose and
treat without any need for a referral, and at significantly lower cost
(whether directly to a patient with traditional insurance, or indirectly
through reduction of health care costs passed on to the public). In
addition, a good family doctor is more likely to be sensitive to family-
related issues and other stresses complicating the medical problem. Although
I can understand the frustration in the occasional cases where a referral
still needs to be made, I believe that most people are best served by seeing
their "primary MD". Alicia Dermer, M.D.
|
|
|