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.