4 ms·

Every time I've interacted with one of these multi-discipline facilities (in the US), it didn't matter if you walked across the hall or across Antarctica, each

Every time I've interacted with one of these multi-discipline facilities (in the US), it didn't matter if you walked across the hall or across Antarctica, each office treated you uniquely and you had to fill out the same damn paperwork at each of them.

Rebelgecko 3y ago
Maybe it's because Kaiser is more integrated than most providers, but that wasn't the case for me. I might've had to check in with separate receptions, but no actual paperwork
- atonse 3y ago
  Kaiser is the only place I’ve seen where these things are seamless (still didn’t feel enough to keep them). Even CareFirst HMO doesn’t have that level of integration.
  - decafninja 3y ago
    How is Kaiser? As a Newyorker looking to move to California at some point, I’ve heard both good and bad. But the fact that it seems more integrated and seamless than almost anything else in the US (maybe except concierge care?) is highly appealing.
    - Rebelgecko 3y ago
      I've heard anecdotes that their mental healthcare isn't great, and their PCPs tend to be a bit rushed (or maybe I just got unlucky when picking Dr's?). But overall I liked Kaiser. I liked how well integrated everything was, and it was easy to go to another office if my doctor was on vacation or didn't have any appt openings. I also really liked that I always knew what my appointments would cost in advance. FWIW they kinda sucked for blood draws, when I had Kaiser I needed to make separate appointments at a lab, go in, and wait. The flip side is that when I went to urgent care with an issue they were able to say "go across the street and tell them you're here for imaging, they should be ready for you in 30 minutes or so" which was super convenient. With my current PPO doctor, it's a bit more of a pain when I have to go to specialists and pricing sometimes feels like they call rand(600) every visit. But when the doctor wants a blood draw, a nurse comes and does it immediately, which I was was the way Kaiser did it.
    - atonse 3y ago
      I left Kaiser 10+ years ago mainly because my pcp only accepted CareFirst and I liked her enough to switch from Kaiser after nearly 15 years. No real complaints except the PCPs seemed Alright and I didn’t like having no choice.
specialist 3y ago
Because each medical practice within is its own business entity. Like the retail stores within a mall. Imagine the duplicated administrative effort. It's ludicrous. Also, care providers are treated like gig workers. For instance, my superior dermatologist has two practices AND a side hustle (reviewing medical images), just to stay afloat. (Two income household, raising two kids, house nearish to work, paying off student loans.) They and their partner are debt slaves. For the foreseeable future. It's insane.

Rebelgecko 3y ago

Maybe it's because Kaiser is more integrated than most providers, but that wasn't the case for me. I might've had to check in with separate receptions, but no actual paperwork

atonse 3y ago
Kaiser is the only place I’ve seen where these things are seamless (still didn’t feel enough to keep them). Even CareFirst HMO doesn’t have that level of integration.
- decafninja 3y ago
  How is Kaiser? As a Newyorker looking to move to California at some point, I’ve heard both good and bad. But the fact that it seems more integrated and seamless than almost anything else in the US (maybe except concierge care?) is highly appealing.
  - Rebelgecko 3y ago
    I've heard anecdotes that their mental healthcare isn't great, and their PCPs tend to be a bit rushed (or maybe I just got unlucky when picking Dr's?). But overall I liked Kaiser. I liked how well integrated everything was, and it was easy to go to another office if my doctor was on vacation or didn't have any appt openings. I also really liked that I always knew what my appointments would cost in advance. FWIW they kinda sucked for blood draws, when I had Kaiser I needed to make separate appointments at a lab, go in, and wait. The flip side is that when I went to urgent care with an issue they were able to say "go across the street and tell them you're here for imaging, they should be ready for you in 30 minutes or so" which was super convenient. With my current PPO doctor, it's a bit more of a pain when I have to go to specialists and pricing sometimes feels like they call rand(600) every visit. But when the doctor wants a blood draw, a nurse comes and does it immediately, which I was was the way Kaiser did it.
  - atonse 3y ago
    I left Kaiser 10+ years ago mainly because my pcp only accepted CareFirst and I liked her enough to switch from Kaiser after nearly 15 years. No real complaints except the PCPs seemed Alright and I didn’t like having no choice.

specialist 3y ago

Because each medical practice within is its own business entity. Like the retail stores within a mall. Imagine the duplicated administrative effort. It's ludicrous. Also, care providers are treated like gig workers. For instance, my superior dermatologist has two practices AND a side hustle (reviewing medical images), just to stay afloat. (Two income household, raising two kids, house nearish to work, paying off student loans.) They and their partner are debt slaves. For the foreseeable future. It's insane.