On the subject of doctors - good GP?

erikka

I have to agree with BP on methodist--someone left me sitting for six hours with an IV and I couldn't find anyone to help me. I ended up taking the line out myself and walking out--no one even noticed. They are AWFUL and messed up my billing and treated me terribly.

If you don't mind going into the city, my doctor, Jonathan Shammash @ Cornell Internal Medical Associates, is EXCELLENT and I've been going to him for almost ten years (and I am picky!). All of his associates are also wonderful and I've never had a problem getting a same day appointment. If they refer you to a specialist they are usually in the same building and they're really good about getting you in and out and not wasting your time.

erikka

shishkab wrote: [quote=sprite]Eventually the GP just won't exist anymore.
Scary, no? Who will we go to when we don't know what's wrong?

nurse practitioners. in my opinion, they are the future of family/general medicine.

I'm banking on it (and can't wait to be in practice). Unless I have something seriously wrong with me I'd rather see a NP since they actually listen and spend time with you. I can't tell you how many times I've had a dismissive physician come in, barely listen to what I tell them, wave off all my concerns and throw a couple rx's at me (some of which I have caught that had life threatening interactions with my current meds).

NPs and PAs are a wonderful resource that people don't realize are out there. A lot of doctors have been burned so badly by insurance companies or have come to the realization that there's more money to be made offering cosmetic/luxury services that they're getting away from general practice--I wouldn't be surprized if that gap was filled with PAs and NPs and GP doctors did more management than treatment.

bette

I tried to make an appointment to see Dr. Fletcher, but apparently he's not at his 13th St. clinic anymore. Anyone know where he's practicing now, and what his new phone number is?

tex antoine

Fletcher is still there. I just called this morning

blkpetal

When I first lived in NYC, the Upper West Side was only mildly difficult to get to from where I live. Now it is Impossible but I continue to visit my NP up there because she is so great and I am too scared to lose her!

When I lived in DC for a while I even came up to see her since I was still on BCBS at the time. That's how GOOD she is and BAD other dr's I have had in the past :-)

sweetpea

From what I've been told, Dr. Fletcher is still out of town (settling someone's estate?) but will be back soon. I've been seeing Dr. Layton and he's okay but doesn't measure up to all the praise heaped on Dr. Fletcher on this board. I'm a new patient and intended to see Dr. Fletcher, so hopefully I'll finally get to see him when he returns.

tryp

I have to back up the plug for Dr. Raffinan - he's been my primary for the past three years and he's incredible. He treats his patients like they actually have a brain and takes their opinions and wishes into consideration when treating. Also, he genuinely cares about people and never seems to think that even the most ridiculous questions are too stupid to answer. And he spends SO much time with you that you almost feel guilty afterwards. I never thought I'd want to have a male doctor, but he's so caring and understanding that you can't help but love him.

japes317

tryp wrote: I have to back up the plug for Dr. Raffinan - he's been my primary for the past three years and he's incredible. He treats his patients like they actually have a brain and takes their opinions and wishes into consideration when treating. Also, he genuinely cares about people and never seems to think that even the most ridiculous questions are too stupid to answer. And he spends SO much time with you that you almost feel guilty afterwards. I never thought I'd want to have a male doctor, but he's so caring and understanding that you can't help but love him.

Again, I love Dr. R. For all of the reasons you said, plus he actually CALLS YOU BACK (go figure) if you have a question, need a prescription, are awaiting test results, etc.

Plus, he shakes your hand when he meets you, remembers your history, spends time talking with you, will work with you to find ways to reduce your prescription costs, etc. etc. etc.

And, he's easy on the eyes. Sigh.

Loves me my Dr. Raffinan

filmlover44

bette wrote: I tried to make an appointment to see Dr. Fletcher, but apparently he's not at his 13th St. clinic anymore. Anyone know where he's practicing now, and what his new phone number is?

Oh, be careful. For example, if you call the number listed in Oxford, you get another affiliated practice in the same building who will tell you that Dr. Fletcher "is no longer there". They are not supposed to do that. They are supposed to direct you to the correct number. I suspect that it's jealousy or something.

oishigirl

I'm with you, Flexichick. I absolutely adore Dr. Raffinan. He has been amazingly supportive, and has spent much time with me discussing what is going on. It has been a tough year for me, and he always keeps up. He even hooked me up with a friend of his who he thought would be a good contact in my field. My father was a physician, and I appreciate someone who, like my Dad, really gets to know his patients!
(He has also referred me to two very good doctors for issues outside of his scope.)

Dr. Raf is indeed easy on the eyes, too!

If you want an appointment and can't wait, get there AT 8 AM. Tuesdays are better than Mondays, as people are coming in fresh off of their weekend issues. They are used to people coming in, so don't feel bad if it's your first appointment with him and you just walk in. My first appointment was a walk-in, and then I thought, "why hadn't I come sooner!?"

Anyway, hope you all are feeling healthy and enjoying the spring weather.

S

maet

I see we have another proud member of the Dr. R. fan club :-)

mjboler

Subject: GP in the Slope

Can anyone comment on Dr. Martha Anthony (on 13th St.)? I found her on my insurance company's website, and I was thinking of using her. Or if anyone could recommend a female doctor in the neighborhood or in Midtown, I would really appreciate it!

lmboogie

From what I've been told, Dr. Fletcher is still out of town (settling someone's estate?) but will be back soon. I've been seeing Dr. Layton and he's okay but doesn't measure up to all the praise heaped on Dr. Fletcher on this board. I'm a new patient and intended to see Dr. Fletcher, so hopefully I'll finally get to see him when he returns

I had the same experience... Tried an appointment with Dr. Fletcher today based on this board but he is still out of town so I went to see Dr. Layton. He was ok but didn't measure up to some of the comments I read about Dr. Fletcher. Not sure if this is normal either but I had a 3:00PM appointment and wasn't seen until 4:20.

tex antoine

I went to Fletcher a few times and came away convinced he's a lunatic. But if you like going for tests you don't need and getting referrals to every specialist in creation, he's your boy.

gigi

Subject: Finally!

FurryGreyBOy wrote: I love my doc.. Burton Fletcher, M.D. 348 13th Street
Suite 201,Brooklyn, NY 11215 (718) 622-7800

(located between 6th & 7th Avenue). I have always found him to be a good listener and very thorough - with a great sense of humour too! (takes Oxford).

Thanks for the recommendation! I remembered this thread from a while ago and called to make an appointment with Dr. Fletcher. The gentleman on the other end taking my information was a riot. I actually thought I had the wrong number. After the frustration of calling other offices it was refreshing to actually speak to someone decent. He has another address on Berkeley. Is that a 2nd office? Anyway, I hope that it turns out to be a good visit. I've been so dizzy lately. And I'm terrified about having my blood drawn.

filmlover44

You mean Bill! He's a hoot.

Dr. Layton and Dr. Fletcher are both kind of different so if you are not into having quirky and interesting doctors it's best to skip this doctors office.

gigi

filmlover44 wrote: You mean Bill! He's a hoot.

Dr. Layton and Dr. Fletcher are both kind of different so if you are not into having quirky and interesting doctors it's best to skip this doctors office.

Thanks, I think I can live with it. Quirky and wacky is better that being treated like cattle.

filmlover44

I agree! I always enjoy my appointments with them.

tex antoine

Call me old-fashioned, but I don't go to a doctor to be entertained. I go to be examined, diagnosed, and prescribed a course of treatment by a competent professional. Burton Fletcher is flat-out nuts. He sends you for completely unnecessary tests and hands out referrals like they were lollipops. He wasted two hours of my life sending me for an uttterly needless echocardiogram before he even examined me. In fact, he still hasn't examined me. His consultation consists of sitting you in his office and going over your medical history, then sending you for every test in creation. Then when you go back to discuss the results, he forgets what tests he even sent you for. I'm not even sure he realized I had been there before. Sure, his turtlenecks are cool, but I expect more out of a physician than just James Bond villain style cues. As for that guy Bill, I don't what function he performs there, but it seems to consist mostly of mugging, doing schtick, and escorting the endless stream of pharmaceutical reps in and out of the office. The one time I called him with a simple question about one of Fletcher's avalanche of referrals, he never bothered to call me back. I'm glad other people are being "entertained" by this quack, but I grieve for anyone who puts their health in his hands.

filmlover44

Like i said. They aren't for everyone, just like turtlenecks aren't for everyone and I put my health into my own hands.

Me, if I don't want to go for a test and don't think it's necessary, I just don't go.

Bill manages the office.

germfree!

But is Fletcher still out? What's the deal? I saw Layton last week and was not so enamoured.

tex antoine

I wonder if the fact that you list your profession as "whore for the pharm industry" on your profile has anything to do with your effusive praise for the insane Burton Fletcher. The more I think about my experience there, the more I think the whole office might be a racket, from that dude Bill on down. I never saw so many drug reps streaming in and out of a doctor's office in my life. There was literally a continuous parade. In the waiting room, they have an open, unattended closet filled with drug samples that any patient could have easy access to. My guess: Fletcher gets a piece of all this action, plus a kickback on all his dubious referrals. The guy wanted to refer me to his personal chiropractor when I told him I get an occasional neck ache, for God's sake. What physician sends you to a chiropractor? (And yes, I "took my health in my own hands" and flushed his referral down the toilet.)

filmlover44 wrote: Like i said. They aren't for everyone, just like turtlenecks aren't for everyone and I put my health into my own hands.

Me, if I don't want to go for a test and don't think it's necessary, I just don't go.

Bill manages the office.

filmlover44

Wow, you are an awfully angry person!

"And yes, I "took my health in my own hands" and flushed his referral down the toilet."


Good for you! I think that everyone should take their own health care into their own hands and do what is best for them.

Personally, I like chiropractors and look for that kind of physician. I'll pick chiropractors over drugs any day.

I am not a Pharm rep, I am a computer programmer. I work for a marketing firm, and it's a joke since one of our biggest clients is a pharm co.

filmlover44

germfree! wrote: But is Fletcher still out? What's the deal? I saw Layton last week and was not so enamoured.

I dunno, some family thing I heard.

hous

Subject: Dr. Burton Fletcher / Dr. Layton

I tried to make an appointment w/ Dr. Fletcher about a month ago due to recommendations I saw in this thread. Unfortunately, I was told he'd be gone until mid-July and that Dr. Layton was taking care of his patients... I made an appointment for 9:30am and was seen at 10:30 by Dr. Layton. After calling my name, he failed to even introduce himself or shake my hand. He just looked at some papers and said follow me. (Wow!) I was shocked. This didn't give me much confidence in his abilities as a doctor.

Anyway, after I told him my problems he performed a half-assed diagnosis and wrote me a scrip for antibiotics (5 days...?) and took a blood test. When I came back for the results, he didn't know what I was there for, and had to read the test results right in front of me. Not a good feeling. He said the test results were fine, and asked me how I felt. I told him "no different - still bothering me" so his response was to write me another scrip for 2 more days of antibiotics. No referral, nothing.

I can't even describe how disappointed I am with this doctor.

I'm going back for the same problem again tomorrow, and after googling Dr. Burton Fletcher I found this thread had expanded since I last saw it... I just had to comment. I really hope Dr. Fletcher is leaps and bounds more competent than his partner!

hous

Update - Fletcher is still out, and the receptionist "doesn't want to say he'll be back next week because [she doesn't] know when he'll be back."

Guess I'll go with Dr. Raffinan.

filmlover44

I wonder WTF is going on with him? If he doesn't come back soon, I'm going to have to find another doctor. As amusing as I find Dr. Layton, I don't want him for my doctor either.

tex antoine

filmlover44 wrote: I wonder WTF is going on with him? If he doesn't come back soon, I'm going to have to find another doctor. As amusing as I find Dr. Layton, I don't want him for my doctor either.

Call me "angry" if you like, but I find it slightly insane that you take who "amuses" you into consideration when choosing a physician. I sure hope you never get sick. Maybe they can call in Patch Adams for a consult in your cancer ward. Oh, and chiropractors are quacks. But whatever. It's your funeral.

oishigirl

hous wrote: Update - Fletcher is still out, and the receptionist "doesn't want to say he'll be back next week because [she doesn't] know when he'll be back."

Guess I'll go with Dr. Raffinan.

I don't think you'll be disappointed... he's a really good doctor, and a good person.

filmlover44

Tex Antoine wrote: [quote=filmlover44]I wonder WTF is going on with him? If he doesn't come back soon, I'm going to have to find another doctor. As amusing as I find Dr. Layton, I don't want him for my doctor either.

Call me "angry" if you like, but I find it slightly insane that you take who "amuses" you into consideration when choosing a physician. I sure hope you never get sick. Maybe they can call in Patch Adams for a consult in your cancer ward. Oh, and chiropractors are quacks. But whatever. It's your funeral.

Just like I think that you are entitled to your own opinion, so am I. I don't think that I ever said that I take who amuses me into consideration because I don't think that i said that Fletcher amuses me. I believe that was Dr. Layton who I also would not choose for my physician. It's ok for you to think that chiropractors are quacks too but not ok for you to determine which doctor is good for a specific person or how one chooses to manage ones own medical care.

I think that Fletcher is a good doctor and one those "uneccesary" referrals for tests probably saved my life because yes, i am sick and because Fletcher is out of town, I've had to find another doctor. My funeral indeed. You have no effing idea what you are talking about. I hope that you take more care in your comments in the future.