4 ms·

Presumably only for trivial conditions id hope. Edit it will also lead to over prescribing of antibiotics and cause drug resistance to rise

cestith 8y ago
I'd actually hope not. Many people have chronic conditions which require periodic visits to a doctor mainly for the same prescription to be renewed. A doctor should absolutely be involved in follow-up management, but don't make patients go every two or three months just to get the same prescription as last time and to get insurance to cover the meds. Once a chronic but potentially well-managed condition is diagnosed, let people record their blood pressure, blood sugar, weight, and whatever and submit it for records. Let them renew their prescription with the pharmacy without spending hours finding an appointment that then takes hours to actually be seen. If their condition hasn't changed, once or twice a year with the doctor should be plenty.
- walshemj 8y ago
  As some one who has lived with a serious chronic condition id say the opposite - I don't have anyting against my local pharmacy (and they have been good and even hand delivered meds ) But I suspect that they probably have two at most patients like me as opposed to the nephrology specialists who see dozens of people like me each week.
  - cestith 8y ago
    Are there easy at-home tests that would be useful data for your doctor? Is once a month necessary for this specific condition? Is three months? What about keeping records and sending them to the doctor every couple of weeks so an extra appointment can be scheduled, but only once every four or six months normally? I have hypertension. I've had it for years. It doesn't just go away, but it doesn't (at least in my history) rapidly get worse. I can take my blood pressure at home and chart it. The same medication I have always taken works and at the same dosage. Yet most doctors want to see me every two months to renew the prescription, prescribing a one-month supply with one refill. The stuff's shelf stable for a few years. Why can't I get a six month prescription?
JumpCrisscross 8y ago
> Presumably only for trivial conditions id [sic] hope I'd hope not. I used to be asthmatic. At one point in my life, getting--and paying co-pay for--a doctor's appointment was not easy. There were nights when I weighed suffering a little longer against the risk of triggering an ER visit. Being able to go to a pharmacy to get albuterol would have made a tough time easier with minimal risk to anyone else.
- walshemj 8y ago
  Can't you just logon and order a repeat prescription which is then delivered to your local pharmacy.
  - JumpCrisscross 8y ago
    > Can't you just logon and order a repeat prescription which is then delivered to your local pharmacy No, I had to physically go to the doctor to get the prescription renewed every so often.
- ams6110 8y ago
  Why are you no longer asthmatic? Did you move to a less polluted/better climate area? Change your diet? Something else?
  - majewsky 8y ago
    I would be interested in this as well. I feel like my asthma got worse since I moved to an apartment next to a busier road.
    - kian 8y ago
      I can't speak for JumpCrissCross, but there are 3 things that improved my asthma: 1) Eating better. Low level inflammation is terrible for people with auto-immune disorders, to which the trio of asthma, eczema, and allergies belong. 2) Moved closer to the ocean - salt air is great for the lungs, and really has a way of helping deal with any allergies you might have to local pollen 3) RUN! seriously, aerobic exercise for 45 minutes to an hour (anything less doesn't count) is a literal life-changer. Yeah, it really does suck for the first two weeks (if you're doing it every other day), but after that you'll start to feel amazing. You'll lose weight, which also helps with the breathing. And you'll have way more energy and higher happiness levels, which will help you want to move around more and be outside, which again will help with your asthma. Seriously, if I could do only one, this one is it. Run. Or swim if you can't (I only run on sand or dirt because my knees are shot). Best of luck!

cestith 8y ago

I'd actually hope not. Many people have chronic conditions which require periodic visits to a doctor mainly for the same prescription to be renewed. A doctor should absolutely be involved in follow-up management, but don't make patients go every two or three months just to get the same prescription as last time and to get insurance to cover the meds. Once a chronic but potentially well-managed condition is diagnosed, let people record their blood pressure, blood sugar, weight, and whatever and submit it for records. Let them renew their prescription with the pharmacy without spending hours finding an appointment that then takes hours to actually be seen. If their condition hasn't changed, once or twice a year with the doctor should be plenty.

walshemj 8y ago
As some one who has lived with a serious chronic condition id say the opposite - I don't have anyting against my local pharmacy (and they have been good and even hand delivered meds ) But I suspect that they probably have two at most patients like me as opposed to the nephrology specialists who see dozens of people like me each week.
- cestith 8y ago
  Are there easy at-home tests that would be useful data for your doctor? Is once a month necessary for this specific condition? Is three months? What about keeping records and sending them to the doctor every couple of weeks so an extra appointment can be scheduled, but only once every four or six months normally? I have hypertension. I've had it for years. It doesn't just go away, but it doesn't (at least in my history) rapidly get worse. I can take my blood pressure at home and chart it. The same medication I have always taken works and at the same dosage. Yet most doctors want to see me every two months to renew the prescription, prescribing a one-month supply with one refill. The stuff's shelf stable for a few years. Why can't I get a six month prescription?

JumpCrisscross 8y ago

> Presumably only for trivial conditions id [sic] hope I'd hope not. I used to be asthmatic. At one point in my life, getting--and paying co-pay for--a doctor's appointment was not easy. There were nights when I weighed suffering a little longer against the risk of triggering an ER visit. Being able to go to a pharmacy to get albuterol would have made a tough time easier with minimal risk to anyone else.

walshemj 8y ago
Can't you just logon and order a repeat prescription which is then delivered to your local pharmacy.
- JumpCrisscross 8y ago
  > Can't you just logon and order a repeat prescription which is then delivered to your local pharmacy No, I had to physically go to the doctor to get the prescription renewed every so often.
ams6110 8y ago
Why are you no longer asthmatic? Did you move to a less polluted/better climate area? Change your diet? Something else?
- majewsky 8y ago
  I would be interested in this as well. I feel like my asthma got worse since I moved to an apartment next to a busier road.
  - kian 8y ago
    I can't speak for JumpCrissCross, but there are 3 things that improved my asthma: 1) Eating better. Low level inflammation is terrible for people with auto-immune disorders, to which the trio of asthma, eczema, and allergies belong. 2) Moved closer to the ocean - salt air is great for the lungs, and really has a way of helping deal with any allergies you might have to local pollen 3) RUN! seriously, aerobic exercise for 45 minutes to an hour (anything less doesn't count) is a literal life-changer. Yeah, it really does suck for the first two weeks (if you're doing it every other day), but after that you'll start to feel amazing. You'll lose weight, which also helps with the breathing. And you'll have way more energy and higher happiness levels, which will help you want to move around more and be outside, which again will help with your asthma. Seriously, if I could do only one, this one is it. Run. Or swim if you can't (I only run on sand or dirt because my knees are shot). Best of luck!