The Doctor Is In

One of the many things we've had to deal with since we relocated to Victoria from El Campo has been finding a Primary Care Physician for my wife Sweetie and me. When we lived in Arkansas, we saw the same PCP for eight of the nine years we were there. So, it's very important to us that we find someone who is patient (no pun intended), is up on the latest innovations in medicine, asks the right questions, and listens to our questions and provides clear, easy-to-understand answers.

Our search began with my wife, Sweetie, doing a typical Google search, and calling the various doctors listed in the results. Some weren't accepting new patients (understandable in most cases), but at least one said they didn't accept any new patients over 40 years old. Huh?! Needless to say, the results were rather frustrating! We felt like, "Hey, Doc! We're ready to give you our (and our heath insurance company's) business here...possibly for several years!

When that approach go us nowhere, I remembered an app that I installed on my iPad several months ago; an app put out by our health insurance provider. One of its functions is a "Doctor Finder," so I punched up "Victoria, TX," and it proceeded to give me a whole list of doctors all over Victoria who accepted our insurance. It also had all of their contact info, brief summaries of their credentials and areas of expertise, plus maps to show where their offices were located. Sweet! So, I found one who seemed like they might be a good fit for us, and called their office. The receptionist was very helpful and friendly, and after I explained the situation (new in town, need a Primary Care Physician, etc.), the lady on the phone (in whose office there are several doctors) recommended a name, and told us a little about this doctor. Now, at this point, I need to explain that I'm leaving out names, etc., so as not to potentially violate any HIPAA (Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act) rules here.

So, we set an appointment for my wife (she suffered a back injury around the 2nd of May, and needed to see a doc ASAP). When the appointment day came, we walked into the office about 10 minutes before her scheduled appointment. The very large waiting room that greeted us was virtually empty. There was a lady leaving with her young children, and another woman with a youngster walked in shortly after we did. The waiting room was gloriously quiet, except for the sound coming from a TV up on one wall. After filling out the initial paperwork, copies were made of my wife's drivers license and health insurance card.

Before she could get all of the paperwork filled out, we were called into the area where the examination rooms are, and a nurse (I presume) took Sweetie's vitals, asked the initial list of questions they always ask new patients, and then led us down the hall to an actual examination room and told us the doctor would be in "in just a few minutes." And sure enough, in just a few minutes came a light knock on the door, and in walks a gentlemen in his mid-30's, wearing ostrich-skin cowboy boots, with dress slacks and a nice polo-type shirt. He reminded me a little of Ron Howard ("Opie" on the Andy Griffith Show,  or Richie Cunningham from Happy Days. Of course, now he's a big-time film director).

To cut to the chase, we really liked his "bedside manor," his knowledge and approach to treating my wife's immediate situation (and the underlying conditions that no doubt contributed to her injury), and I liked his ostrich-skin boots. We've only had one "date" with this young doctor, so it's still a little early to tell, but I think we've found just the right person we need to help us with our health care, in most situations. I'll keep you, my many, many dear readers, posted as time goes by, and it's my turn for an exam.