Archive for February, 2012
Ask Your General Physician to Consider the Request
Your first line of attack for getting specialized or other medical care from someone other than your general physician is your general physician. In functioning as the gatekeeper, your general physician determines whether to refer you for specialized or other medical care.
Specialists, Testing, Drugs, and Other Medical Care
General or primary care physicians for HMOs are provided with direct and indirect incentives to limit the use of specialists, testing, drugs, and other types of medical care. This has proven to be a controversial and difficult matter.
Transfer All of Your Medical Records to Your General Physician
An essential part of the introductory process is for you to arrange to send all medical records for you (and your family) to your new general physician. Remember that some medical records—such as x-rays, CAT scans, MRIs, sonograms, and some medical reports—are often retained at hospitals or other facilities you may have visited.
Forming a Relationship with Your HMO
When you join an HMO, it is important to begin the relationship in the best possible manner. The quality of services you receive from your HMO will be enhanced if you follow a few simple principles in dealing with it.
Be involved in the community where you do business
First and foremost we have to start at the beginning and that simply means getting involved. Every community has a host of organisations where people give their time freely to get behind good causes that need some help. They may be charities, they may be environmental groups, they may be groups trying to improve conditions [...]
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