Best location for doctors

[dks0111]

In about 5 months I am supposed to go back home from Bahrain/Kuwait. My wife has chrons and I was wondering where are the best doctors located in the US. I have priority over almost everyone in the Coast Guard due to where I am at.

Thanks in advance,
David

 

[Isla]

There isn't any one place that has a sign that reads all good GI doctors reside here. A doctor who treats her regularly should be one she trusts and has a good relationship with. A doctor patient relationship I would say is the most important. And just because one doctor may be perfect for one person it doesn't mean they are perfect for all.

With that said you would better off being near a major city so that you may have a wider choice of doctors. The key is finding a great primary care physician, as they can recommend specialists they have built a rapport with. My GI is in his "trial" period for both me and my primary doc as neither of us have had experience with him. So far I don't like him but we shall see.

Good luck!

 

[Colt]

I get a good impression of where I live (Columbia MO) but the reason for that is that the state university and its medical school are here. We have a relatively small city with a huge number of well educated doctors fresh out of medical school with current medical information fresh in their minds. Residents are a dime a dozen around here and they're all competing for their residency positions and fighting over interesting cases.

Sadly if you don't have insurance it's still an 8 month waiting list just to be evaluated for acceptance to the local clinic. A big hooray for the VA though. We've got a VA hospital here as well as the university hospital and regional hospital.

This isn't a claim as the best though. I don't think anyone can make that claim.

 

[crohnsmom]

Although I am sure there are good docs almost everywhere, I would suggest you check out Mass. General in Boston. It is one of the leading hospitals in the country, and they have many leading Crohns specialists on staff in several GI and surgical practices. My son was diagnosed in less than a week, and from what I have subsequently read this is almost unheard of! He also had his surgery there and is followed by a GI group that did some of the initial pioneering research on remicade years ago.
Although many things go into picking a place to live, I am all too aware of how important good medical care is with this disease. Also know that because Mass. General is one of the largest teaching hospitals in the world, it is not for profit, meaning they negotiate quite well with insurance companies.
Good luck with your move,
Sincerely,
Ramona

 

[butt-eze]

I'm am very happy about my doctor at the University of WA in Seattle. He is amazing, thorough, compassionate, and intelligent. He does studies on Crohn's and only sees patients with digestive disease. I have found that there are GI doctors and then their are digestive disease specialists. Unfortunately, I think some GI doctors are still too broad in their practice. Avoid GIs who see anyone. You don't want a GI who performs routine colonoscopies for the 50+ crowd. I hope this makes sense...

 

[Rosemarie]

Obviously you'll get many different answers on this! =) Thats a good thing!
In my experience (I've been to hospitals all up and down the east coast- military family) the Cleveland Clinic in Cleveland Ohio is the #1 best hospital I've ever been to. People fly in from ALL OVER THE WORLD to see these doctors. They've been featured in Time magazine and lots of medical publications praising them for thier work and research. The Cleveland Clinic is one of the TOP hospitals in the country for Crohn's/Colits patients because they are almost always the first to invent new medicines and try new therapies. These people KNOW what they are doing. On top of that- They value excellent bedside manner. The doctors, nurses, and pretty much any employee you will come in contact with are kind and respectful of the patients as well as thier families. They will go out of thier way to make your experience as stress free and healing as possible. Its the only hospital I've been to where they actually have people employed JUST to walk around talking to the patients family, comforting them, making phone calls for them, reservations, getting you coffee or a plate of food if you dont want to leave the waiting room... its like a concierge service. My husband and I are actually considering moving back to ohio just so I can go back to this hospital for regular treatment. I'm also very picky about cleanliness... if there is ANY place where things should be clean, it should be a hospital. The CC is the ONLY hospital Ive ever been in where EVERY single room is kept clean and sanitary. The patient rooms are all spacious and comfortable. This hospital has PLENTY of money to keep everything up to date and brand new. You will never see a dirty old toilet, peeling wallpaper, or rust/grime on ANYTHING. If your wife is like me she will greatly appreciate the effort the staff there put into keeping everything nice, clean, and organized.

The doctors I had (I have Crohn's):

Dr. Scott Strong - http://my.clevelandclinic.org/staff_directory/2/Staff_1111.aspx -the BEST doctor I've had for ANYTHING. One of the smartest, kindest doctors Ive ever met. He recently went to Africa to open a new clinic, but since he's listed on the CC website as an employee Im assuming he's back in the US.

Dr. Aaron Brzezinski http://my.clevelandclinic.org/staff_directory/1/Staff_853.aspx -very intelligent man with a strong accent lol =)

Of course they both come with a team of doctors and nurses who are also nice and KNOW what they are doing- it would take me all day to list them all.
It might not be so easy to get in to see these people at first. You must be persistent, but if your wife is having a serious flare or problem that isnt responding they will gladly take her in without issue. IT IS WORTH THE TROUBLE!!!!

 

[butt-eze]

Rosemarie is right. I have heard great things about Cleveland.