Are doctors too lazy to obtain their own H?

[Art_Vandelay]

Hi, newly pregnant nurse who hates playing the part of the patient. I find it odd that the first appointment is with an MA and the pt doesn't even see the doctor. Maybe I am an old "stick in the mud" but healthcare never ceases to irritate me. When I requested copies of my medical record, there were even errors in the H&P. Turns out, my grandfather is still alive. Who knew? I better give him a call. Oh, and I left the profession because of stress. Nope. I moved, thank you. I can now totally empathesize with pt complaints about "the system." It took 3 days of back and forth with the office to get a diagnostic test ordered and I had to physically go to the office. So disappointed.

:-(

[Stephalump]

I guess they realized spending 2 minutes in rooms with patients wasn't really accomplishing anything. Better to just not see them at all, I guess. Once I went midwife, I never went back.

[Art_Vandelay]

I guess they realized spending 2 minutes in rooms with patients wasn't really accomplishing anything. Better to just not see them at all, I guess. Once I went midwife, I never went back.

Preciously. It seems their ego, status, and pocketbooks and a lot more important that quality time with pts nowadays. Trying to stay positive, but not seeing the light just yet.

[CrunchRN, ADN, RN]

My last comment. Actually this system in OB allows the MD to spend much more time with the patient at their 1st appt. with the MD because she has all the info she needs including lab results etc. to have a meaningful discussion with the pt. about her risks and many more issues.

However, I know it is futile to try to get anyone here to understand this so I am going to quit beating a dead horse.

P.S. if she did not have all that info and lab results your 1st visit with her would be a 5 minute hello and see you next visit when I have the needed info.............

[Double-Helix, BSN, RN]

It's actually pretty common for your first prenatal appointment to be only with an MA or a nurse. The nurse can confirm pregnancy through a urine test, vital signs, draw some blood for routine lab work, provide education, etc. (New moms sometimes have a lot of questions- so this can take awhile.) If there are any problems during this appointment, I expect the nurse would get the doctor to evaluate you right then. But typically, when you're only 6 or 8 weeks pregnant, there isn't really much for the doctor to do, especially when he or she doesn't know anything about your history and isn't even sure you're pregnant.

Congratulations on your pregnancy! Trust me, when you're in labor and want your doctor there with you, you'll be happy that he or she doesn't have to rush off to spend a few hours asking/answering questions of new patients.

[brillohead, ADN, RN]

I tell ALL of my friends to see a CNM for anything OG/GYN related... if you're not having a problem pregnancy, you don't *need* a doctor. Pregnancy is not a health problem... it's part of life!