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Should You Dump Your Primary Care Doctor?

2/26/2010
Recorded on 2/26/2010

Program Overview:

Primary care physicians oversee basic diagnosis and non-surgical treatment of common illnesses and medical conditions. But what if you’ve lost confidence in your doctor's ability to address health concerns comprehensively? Should you dump your primary care physician? With fewer medical students opting for a career in family medicine, there is an obvious shortage of primary care doctors which has become a real concern for many patients. What impact might this have on healthcare reform? These questions and more are answered on this episode of Patient Power Health Issues.

Expert Dr. Rowena Sobczyk joins Andrew and Peter for an in-depth discussion on how to communicate effectively with your provider, ask the right questions and know when to seek a second opinion. In Dr. Sobczyk’s own words, “Too many times people go to the doctor and they're nervous, and so they talk about things that are not really important, that are of lesser concern than their main health problem…You really need to make sure the first thing out of your mouth is the part of your body that's bothering you, what your concern is, and so then your doctor will address it first.”

Respected expert Dr. Rowena Sobczyk helps Peter and Andrew get to the bottom of understanding some the unknowns about a patient’s rights, as it relates to the role of the primary care physician. Learn about the steps you can take to ensure you are empowered with information to make the best healthcare decisions.

Experts and Guests:

Rowena Sobczyk, M.D.
Family Physician, American Board of Family Medicine
Dr. Rowena Sobczyk is board certified by the American Board of Family Medicine. She received her medical degree from the Medical University of South Carolina and completed her residency at the University of Minnesota, where she also received a Master’s Degree in Community Health. Besides her medical practice in Atlanta, she has published a number of books and articles encouraging... more >

Sponsored By:

  • Patient Power Health Issues

Transcript:

  1. Introduction LISTEN
  2. Preparing for Your Doctor’s Visit LISTEN
  3. Looking for Another Primary Care Doctor LISTEN
  4. Responsibility of a Primary Care Doctor LISTEN

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