Finding Specialty Health Care In A Rural Area
Although I live in a rural area that has three hospitals and more doctor offices than you can count, is mainly populated by senior citizens and tons of surgery centers, finding specialty health care here is often very difficult.
If fact for me finding a neurologist that knows how to treat Myasthenia Gravis correctly was impossible. I have to travel over an hour to my neurologist. I’m fortunate that he is used to working with patients who live out of town and is willing to communicate with my doctors and if need be emergency room doctors here.
But, this can take a toll on me as a patient, especially when I am having a flare up. I need to have a ride to his office even if it is for a check up because I can’t drive that distance back and forth in one day. My husband has to take a day off from work for these doctor appointments. We are fortunate because his job offers FMLA, Family Medical Leave Act, so his absence is paid for.
But going through this, makes me want to research New York movers and move to a big city so I can find a specialist close to home. For those of you who live in rural areas, does this same thing affect you?
Connie,
This is why I moved back to NY last Fall. I was living in NC and was about 2 hours from all my specialists. I couldn’t make the drive myself, so I always had to inconvenience someone else, plus it took a huge toll on my body, as you mentioned. Also, when I did get hospitalized, I would be so far away that no one could come see me and I felt so lonely and isolated.
I used to live near where you are, and I know what you mean about finding doctors there too. It has been a HUGE sacrifice to come back to NY, financially, emotionally and physically, and it was a lot for mom to deal with. We did it because we truly felt we had no other option for me to receive the care I needed. The upside has been that mom is also receiving better care. The doctors in FL treated her like an old person who was going to die anyway, why do much for her. She is 75 years old and had never had a stress test (both her parents died of heart disease and my 50 year old brother has had a major heart attack already!) or a colonoscopy! Up here the doctor’s are appalled that these things haven’t been done and they are doing them.
It is a serious problem, and of course not everyone can, or wants, to move to a metropolitan area. I am so glad you started this discussion. I will be interested to see what others have to say.
Maureen
http://beingchronicallyillisapill.blogspot.com