Is this guy just phoning it in?

[Draper Mel]

Because I think he is, and I'm going to request a different p-doc. I just thought I'd get some outside feedback.

I've been in treatment for depression for quite a while now. I was officially diagnosed in 1998. So I've seen a couple of psychiatrists over the years.

Since I've been back home and working freelance, I haven't had any mental health insurance, so I've been going to a public health agency. The guy they assigned me to is driving me up the wall.

He asks me a few questions off a sheet of paper: "Have you been feeling sad without reason? Have you been feeling anxious without reason? Have you been sleeping all right?" etc.

He's never taken a moment to find out my living situation, what I do for a living, what issues I might have in my life that could affect my depression. I've expressed my dissatisfaction, but he keeps saying he's just doing medication management, not therapy.

I understand that. But other prescribers I've had would talk to me about that kind of stuff. How's work? What have you been doing in your free time? Anything else going on I should know about? (one example of that being when I had to have back surgery; my CNS gave me a script for Xanax, because I was freaked out)

This guy seems perfectly happy to ask a few questions, write a script and go on to the next person.

Not only that, but he's been late for my appointment at least twice. The doctors come in the same door the patients do, and cut through the reception office. One of these times, there was actually someone ahead of me, so he was REALLY late.

I don't know if it's because this is a public health clinic, or what, but I'm really not impressed, and I'm going to ask for someone else. His bedside manner sucks rocks.

[Sapphire Silk]

Ask for someone else. He's going through the motions. I don't care if it's a public health agency, the standard of care is still the same and I would point that fact out.

[Raveni]

One of my son's doctors was like that. I had a talk with her about it, and she said that she was basically assigned to the case to monitor the medication. Her questions were limited simply to making sure that he wasn't having any kind of adverse reactions, mood swings, or dangerous tendancies.

Once I talked to her, she gave me a great referral to an actual therapist who helped him with actual therapy. (go figure) AND it was covered by our version of public health.

As far as the doc showing up late, it's possible (very likely) that walk-in patients who just "had" to get squeezed in during the morning bumped off his whole schedule, so he tried to sneak out for a quick lunch or meeting and then came back in as you were watching. They kind of hope that as many people don't show up as they squeeze in at the last minute, but that never seems to happen.

Unless, you were there in the morning, and the doc showed up an hour late...

[Draper Mel]

Ask for someone else. He's going through the motions. I don't care if it's a public health agency, the standard of care is still the same and I would point that fact out.

Exactly. I will do that when I call them.

I should point out that my regular doctor at this same clinic is fantastic. I love her, she's very easy to talk to and has a great bedside manner.

[Draper Mel]

Unless, you were there in the morning, and the doc showed up an hour late...

It was in the morning. Once I think I saw him walk in around 10:00 am; my appointment was 9:45, but there was someone before me, I presume at 9:30 (given the amount of time he devotes to each and every patient. )

[MnR]

I'm also treated at a public agency for my mental health issues. I had a few doctors like that and it irritated me to no end. Even with the standard Q's it seems like they just didn't bother to listen to my answers. Luckily, the last doc left at the agency is a peach. Her questions are always catered to each individual, it may be a quick visit for prescriptions, but she still listens.

The previous doctor, when I mentioned a side effect had me sleeping for nearly 3 days, wanted to double my dosage since it was obviously not working for me.

[Draper Mel]

I called, and it turns out he's their only adult psychiatrist right now

I did express my concerns and their patient advocate said she'd talk to him. I'm just waiting to retire some debt so I can start paying for health insurance myself.

[Seshat]

I'm in Aussieland's public health system, and I have a mental health nurse assigned to me. Her job is a combination of talking therapy and patient monitoring, including emergency management.

I have a 45 minute appointment with her every week. She's rescheduled a couple of times over the last few years because of an emergency with one of her other patients - exactly the same sort of thing she has told me she wants me to call her for.

The big problem in Aussieland is getting to see psychiatrists who don't charge up-front fees. Medicare is a slow payer; specialists who can get away with it usually prefer to charge up front and let the patient deal with getting the money back.

Fortunately, most family doctors (and my mental health nurse) just ask to see the 'proof of low income' card, then they'll see you for no cost to you and directly bill Medicare. (Yay for caring medical people!)


Um. Anyway: see if there's any psychiatric nurse practitioners (or mental health nurses, or whatever-they're-called) in your area; and if your equivalent of Medicare will pay for them. Talking therapy often really, really matters!