Finding a non-RW doctor

[OnionPatch]

I've been having some health issues this last year and making lots of visits to doctors. I've pretty much had it with mine. Two of them now have felt they needed to warn their patients of the evils of Obama's socialist healthcare plan. I responded that I thought it was tragic that so many people in our wealthy country are without any kind of health care. They both sort of rolled their eyes and changed the subject, cluing me in that they don't really give a rat's ass about people suffering without healthcare. They aren't even good doctors, both of them have given me substandard, slipshod care and I'm on the market for new doctors, anyway. So since I'm looking, I wondered, are there any clues I can look for that can better my chances of finding a doctor who actually cares about people? They're usually fairly low-keyed regarding their political leanings, but are there any associations, credentials or anything to look for that might give a clue? I plan to Google for campaign contributions and cross off any that give to GOP candidates. Any other ideas?

[meeshrox]

1. i'm not a member of it (yet)

but Angie's List has doctor's reviews...good luck!

http://www.angieslist.com/angieslist/

[county worker]

2. There are doctors who treat people that can't afford to pay them.

I was a controller of a medical clinic and we had a surgeon who would operate on you even if you did not have the insurance to pay him what he would usually get. The way to find out about these kind of people is to talk to the administrative people where you are going, maybe the head nurse administrator. Hopefully they are not right wing too!

[GreenPartyVoter]

3. Maybe also check and see if they are members of Physicians for a National Health Program? It appears

that they have state chapter contacts under their links section: http://pnhp.org/stateactions/

[tridim]

4. Not to worry, most Repukes are predicting that those kinds of doctors will quit the profession.

Which IMO is freaking great.

[NJmaverick]

5. I would complain about these doctors to your insurance company (if you have one)

Mixing politics and medicine is not a good practice.

[Commie Pinko Dirtbag]

7. "Hey, this guy is on your side! Would you please punish him for that?"

Mmmm... no.

[NJmaverick]

8. I wouldn't phrase it that way. I would complain that my doctor forced me to listen to their radical

views on politics while I was trying to get my health care.

[Commie Pinko Dirtbag]

10. Insurance person: "And what were those views?"

Complainer: "I'd rather not disclose that. Politicking on the job is wrong no matter what."
Insurance person: "OK, we'll look into it. Thanks for calling."
*click*
Insurance person: (thinking) "Which doctor would be dumb enough to proselytize for the other side? It's 99.999% certain he was proselytizing FOR us. Ahhh, this one is a good soldier. Let me mark him for perks."

No, I thing voting with your wallet is the most effective and simple way.

[NJmaverick]

13. How about you answer that with "he/she was complaining that our President is a socialist"?

[Commie Pinko Dirtbag]

16. Would just cut the "thinking" part of the dialogue down to its last sentence. -nt

[OnionPatch]

11. Lol, exactly!

I work with the wife of the worst one so I don't really want to go that route, anyway. I told them what I thought about the subject, so I'm good. I just don't want to go back to them. For their politics or their so-called health care.

[Commie Pinko Dirtbag]

6. Looking for Dem donations may be even more effective.

When the probable idiots show up chiding you about "oppression" or "censorship" or that your intention to select doctors is "not very liberal", I'll reveal this whitetext. Note the lack of editing, so this really was typed before. RW trolls are SO predictable.

[Warpy]

9. Right, solicit a donation

and see what kind of reaction you get.

My docs have been good guys who have reduced their fees because I'm uninsured. They've all agreed that insurance companies are desperately in need of regulation and reform, at the very least, and all but one of them has said single payer is the only rational way to go. I haven't asked about party affiliation they have, it's none of my business. I only want decent care, and that's really the bottom line.

The only real reasons to change doctors are intense religious or political proselytizing and poor care. Since you feel you've gotten poor care, it's definitely time to move on.

[OnionPatch]

12. I actually have good insurance.

And a good income. I couldn't solicit a donation, at least not for myself.

Edited to add: I'm sorry to hear you don't have insurance Warpy, that's a shame. I wish I could give you some of mine. :(

[kestrel91316]

14. My nephew is probably going to go to medical school and I am quite sure when he

gets into practice he will be the right kind of doctor. He's a good liberal as is our whole family (except the grandma everybody laughs at).

But that's gonna be a few years. I hope he goes into Family Practice or community health but he is leaning toward ENT.

[OnionPatch]

17. An ENT is what I need, too bad he's not ready yet.

I wish him success. :hi:

[kestrel91316]

21. He's smart, humble, and compassionate. He'll make a GREAT physician.

[Ozymanithrax]

15. Tell them if you want Republcian talking points you will see a proctologist.

[OnionPatch]

18. LOL, awesome, I'll remember that one!

By the way, I just found a bunch of doctors on Open Secrets who contributed to Dems in our area. Now I have to do a little more research to see what field they are in and if they are accepting new patients. Thanks for the help, everyone.

[OnlinePoker]

19. Try campaign donation sites

There are sites that if you punch in a person's name they will say who they've donated to in the past. Pick the ones who've contributed to Democratic candidates.

[meowomon]

20. Find a really good nurse practitioner who works for a neighborhood clinic.

Most MD's suck.