Primary care doctor? One in the north, one in the south?

we don't. i needed to see a doc last april while we were still in AZ for a non CV19 issue so i just went to a local "doc-in-the-box". thru treatment and referrals i saw a doc who could be our PCP in AZ but didn't care for his methods or approach. we both have chronic but under control health issues but in the 25-yrs we've been heading to AZ in the winter/spring we've only needed to see docs twice, once for each of us.

We have a primary care Dr in Missouri where we get our yearly Physical. We also have an internal medicine Dr. in the Rio Grande Valley.
We have a cardiologist in both Missouri and the Rio Grande Valley. We see each one once a year unless the need arises to see more often.
We spend more time in south Texas than Missouri but want to be covered on both ends.
We have Medicare and Humana. It works for us.

As others mentioned use of the "Doc in the Box" is common, but one other thing you may want to do if you have multiple doctors in the same system is to pull a copy of your medical records onto either a thumbdrive or a cd and take that with you. It will give any other docs you need to see all the information from meds to cases and even x-ray and CT results.
We have carried these for about the last 5 years and they came in handy twice.

I thought doctors now accept consultations by phone in case you are out of town.

Have not tried this ourselves since we are reasonably healthy and would set an appointment only for regular physicals twice a year.

But our PCP would assure us we can call her anytime, consulting hours of course.

We have in MN and Texas.

I had no issue traveling urgent care for minor, Er for more serious. I was admitted in IL for an issue Mayo AZ had taken care of years ago. Dr sent for the records & had them faxed in a couple hrs. Sent his findings back to Mayo when I was released.

Yosemite Sam1 wrote:
I thought doctors now accept consultations by phone in case you are out of town.

Have not tried this ourselves since we are reasonably healthy and would set an appointment only for regular physicals twice a year.

But our PCP would assure us we can call her anytime, consulting hours of course.

Dave has done two 'office visits' with his nephrologist this spring. He went and had labs drawn a week ahead, then did the visit via Face Time. I had to make sure I had his weight that morning, as well as blood pressure, medication list, etc., for the nurse who called ahead of the appointment - all of those things that they go over with you before you see the physician. He can't do that with the cardiologist because they need to listen to his heart. And for our primary care physician, we update via the patient portal. Medicare will now pay for telemedicine visits just like regular office visits.

We went to a Doc-in-the-box who missed the diagnosis.
A physical therapist at Mayo Clinic was a mistake.
The soonest a primary care physican was available was six weeks out!

DW flew home and saw her PCP who diagnoised a life threatening condition.
And the diagnosis was made with a simple physical exam!

A good PCP is essential in my experience which is why I ask.

Last year I had a trip to the ER in Palm Springs, CA where I was treated. The ER said to followup with my PCP in two weeks. I said no problem. Then I tried to find a doc that would see me in less than the standard 4 month wait for a "new patient" appt. (I didn't have a PCP in CA.) After a lot of talking, I was able to get an appt. in 3 weeks.

I liked this doctor so I asked her to be my Snowbird PCP, and she agreed. I saw her again 3 months later for a different issue, then soon after she moved from the area.

I plan to search for a new Snowbird PCP about 4 months before we head south this year. That way my "new patient" appt. should happen soon after we arrive. I like having a local PCP at both ends so that I can quickly be seen by someone I know and trust rather than taking "potluck" at an urgent care.

BarbaraOK wrote:

Yosemite Sam1 wrote:
I thought doctors now accept consultations by phone in case you are out of town.

Have not tried this ourselves since we are reasonably healthy and would set an appointment only for regular physicals twice a year.

But our PCP would assure us we can call her anytime, consulting hours of course.

Dave has done two 'office visits' with his nephrologist this spring. He went and had labs drawn a week ahead, then did the visit via Face Time. I had to make sure I had his weight that morning, as well as blood pressure, medication list, etc., for the nurse who called ahead of the appointment - all of those things that they go over with you before you see the physician. He can't do that with the cardiologist because they need to listen to his heart. And for our primary care physician, we update via the patient portal. Medicare will now pay for telemedicine visits just like regular office visits.

Yes, and thank you for this info that everyone should emulate.

And indeed, not a few cases need to have a face time with the physician.

Even in common cough, the doctor needs to diagnose and listen to your breathing as to whether it's just upper respiratory tract infection on something more serious.