Mississippi Valley Health Magazine
Spring 2009
Finding a doctor for a health problem is no small feat these days. You could ask your primary care physician, if you have one, or your neighbor or a family member to determine if they’ve experienced a similar problem. It is hard and often confusing to identify a specialist who can care for you as soon as you need it. Even if you have seen a physician and care has begun, how do you know if you are progressing or if the diagnosis is established? Sometimes during healthcare visits, the diagnosis and a time frame for improvement are not always communicated to the patient effectively. If this is the case, seek another opinion by a specialist. That is not to say that every time you will get a clearer diagnosis, but if you don’t, you should be asking why not.
Specialty care was developed to look deeply into health complaints, symptoms and physical exam findings or signs to establish a list of diagnoses based on those facts in an order of likelihood. There may be further testing prescribed to refine which is most likely and which are less likely. Treatment can proceed after the diagnosis is established in most circumstances, but may be started based on the judgment that the condition needs treatment quickly, is timely, cost efficient and low risk enough to do so before more expensive testing is done.
All physicians follow this sequence of evaluating and providing care to their patients, but specialists often arrive at the diagnosis and treatment plan more rapidly. This is a result of more in depth knowledge of their particular field. Many specialty organizations compose practice guidelines and parameters for various common health issues after extensive examination and consideration of the scientific studies done about those health issues. Now that you know this is readily available to your physicians, you should inquire if your health problems are one of those for which guidelines exist. If so, ask about them. You will get back to health more quickly, less expensively, and with less risk associated with medical decision-making by your health care providers.
Mississippi Valley Health Network can help you arrange specialty care in a timely manner. Give us a call and we will help you find a physician whose in depth knowledge can return you to health as you deserve.
—Dr. John Dooley, Publisher
