the Price of Doctors

I was seen by an MD Internist at a medium-sized family practice. The purpose of the visit was to check on some medications I've been taking for Attention Deficit Disorder. My physician asked a number of questions about my mood and wellbeing, as well as checking my blood pressure. I'm sure she would have had me weighed as part of the service, but I had been weighed recently. Visits like this are necessary for people who take medications like mine, not only to make sure they are treating the condition, but also to make sure the drug isn't causing other problems like elevated blood pressure.

Bear in mind that this doctor is an MD internist, which is basically your average family doctor, not a psychiatrist.

The service was pretty good. My only complaint is that you can't leave without paying the co-pay. That's really gonna vary office-to-office, so I can't complain too much. Although many people will go to a psychiatrist for a condition like ADD, I found that my regular MD did just fine. Her questions were good and thorough. She even asked what my family has noticed as far as the medication's effects. To me that says a lot about her dedication.

If you don't have insurance, you're much better off having medications managed by a general practitioner than a psychiatrist! Rather than charging 89 dollars, they'd charge more like 200! Some people prefer to be treated by a psychiatrist, and if you've got insurance that might not matter as much. A condition like depression or ADD can probably be managed by a regular MD. When selecting one, ask what their experience with your condition is.

While a regular MD is probably fine for most mental health issues, if you really aren't getting better, don't be afraid to ask more questions. If this one can't help you, then consider a different doctor, and whether the additional training of a psychiatrist is in order.