Damn! I like you a lot. I wish there were more physicians like you around. I have never understood why the medical profession focuses on stand alone body systems. Even to this fairly well educated but not in the medical world person, it makes sense that there would be impact and overlap. I guess we have all these specialities b/c we are a departmentalized society. We don't see things as part of a whole. Each body system (and each gov't system, etc) stands alone. I'm not adverse to Western medicine but it sure has its limitations, as it is currently generally practiced.
And speaking from personal experience, you are so right about the mental health issues you bring up. My primary care provider called me on some words/behaviors some years ago and offered meds to me b/c that was all she could offer. Later, I saw the need for more help and found myself a psychiatrist BUT I could afford that. I needed more than meds and I had the money. NOT right. Money gets in the way. Did the psychiatrist ever really question my physical health? Sometimes but always rather vaguely. I will add that he was willing to work with me with meds but he also respected and valued my desire to avoid medication if I could. Things got dicey from time to time but we worked through it.
I do appreciate your columns. You give me a lot to think about.
Do you still ride the motorcycle? There are beautiful roads in NorCal. Watch out for the idiot drivers.
I am currently between bikes, but I maintain that one of the things that makes me a better auto driver is being a motorcycle rider. You must constantly be alert and watch everything and everyone, especially the idiots.
I’m a clinical psychologist, but I have an unusual degree, a DMH, which stands for Doctorate in Mental Health. I got my masters degree in two years at UC Berkeley and my classes were primarily physical health. Class is such as anatomy, physiology, neurology, pharmacology, etc. our professors believe that a good grounding in the physical sciences would make for a better mental health professional, and they were right. I then became a behavior medicine consultant at Kaiser. Although I was extremely well qualified to work with medical doctors because of my educational background I never received the administrative help that I needed. What I noticed is exactly what Dr. Rochat is talking about, the people in psychiatry, never wanted to talk to the medical doctors who were referring patients to them. I would attend, when I was in the psychiatry department, grand rounds once a week and they very often evolved into psychiatrist, making fun of medical doctors and their “absurd and unnecessary“ referrals whenever I received a referral from a medical doctor. I immediately contacted that doctor got more information and scheduled an appointment for the patient within a week. It is possible to do that. One of the reasons psychiatry says they have two grade a patient load is that they attend to damn many meetings! I actually loved working with the medical doctors in the family practice clinic and feel that I could be helpful and that I was appreciated, something I never felt when I worked in the psychiatry department
So glad I "found" these posts - thanks for the information you put out. I've lucked out with my primary and most of the specialists Ive been acquainted with over the years - but there have been a couple doozies - usually my reaction after the fact has to do with the lack of what we used to call bedside manner! Plus one instance of lack of respect towards patients. I believe thats something that should be delved into by the medical "community".
The current increase of PTSD? Its very understandable. Perhaps if the chaos "within" continues for a couple years - maybe possibly the other party/side/etc will manage to get their act together. We can hope, I guess.
Damn! I like you a lot. I wish there were more physicians like you around. I have never understood why the medical profession focuses on stand alone body systems. Even to this fairly well educated but not in the medical world person, it makes sense that there would be impact and overlap. I guess we have all these specialities b/c we are a departmentalized society. We don't see things as part of a whole. Each body system (and each gov't system, etc) stands alone. I'm not adverse to Western medicine but it sure has its limitations, as it is currently generally practiced.
And speaking from personal experience, you are so right about the mental health issues you bring up. My primary care provider called me on some words/behaviors some years ago and offered meds to me b/c that was all she could offer. Later, I saw the need for more help and found myself a psychiatrist BUT I could afford that. I needed more than meds and I had the money. NOT right. Money gets in the way. Did the psychiatrist ever really question my physical health? Sometimes but always rather vaguely. I will add that he was willing to work with me with meds but he also respected and valued my desire to avoid medication if I could. Things got dicey from time to time but we worked through it.
I do appreciate your columns. You give me a lot to think about.
Do you still ride the motorcycle? There are beautiful roads in NorCal. Watch out for the idiot drivers.
Thank you Gracie, nicely put.
I am currently between bikes, but I maintain that one of the things that makes me a better auto driver is being a motorcycle rider. You must constantly be alert and watch everything and everyone, especially the idiots.
Exactly. I enjoy bicycling (despite several rather serious accidents over the last 30 years) and I know it makes me a more cautious auto driver.
I’m a clinical psychologist, but I have an unusual degree, a DMH, which stands for Doctorate in Mental Health. I got my masters degree in two years at UC Berkeley and my classes were primarily physical health. Class is such as anatomy, physiology, neurology, pharmacology, etc. our professors believe that a good grounding in the physical sciences would make for a better mental health professional, and they were right. I then became a behavior medicine consultant at Kaiser. Although I was extremely well qualified to work with medical doctors because of my educational background I never received the administrative help that I needed. What I noticed is exactly what Dr. Rochat is talking about, the people in psychiatry, never wanted to talk to the medical doctors who were referring patients to them. I would attend, when I was in the psychiatry department, grand rounds once a week and they very often evolved into psychiatrist, making fun of medical doctors and their “absurd and unnecessary“ referrals whenever I received a referral from a medical doctor. I immediately contacted that doctor got more information and scheduled an appointment for the patient within a week. It is possible to do that. One of the reasons psychiatry says they have two grade a patient load is that they attend to damn many meetings! I actually loved working with the medical doctors in the family practice clinic and feel that I could be helpful and that I was appreciated, something I never felt when I worked in the psychiatry department
Yes, Johnny, much more ill will in the air if the convicted criminal and insurrectionist takes office.
He and his billionaire cohorts aim only at feathering their nests, poisoning the rest of ours.
Need for psychiatry, other physicians and consultants? Oh yes.
But maybe Dems can get it together, maybe Jan. 6, and vote on the disqualification clause in the Constitution's Article 14, Section Three.
YES! But do they have the nerve to do that?
Chaos would likely rein and that could be a good thing overall.
So glad I "found" these posts - thanks for the information you put out. I've lucked out with my primary and most of the specialists Ive been acquainted with over the years - but there have been a couple doozies - usually my reaction after the fact has to do with the lack of what we used to call bedside manner! Plus one instance of lack of respect towards patients. I believe thats something that should be delved into by the medical "community".
The current increase of PTSD? Its very understandable. Perhaps if the chaos "within" continues for a couple years - maybe possibly the other party/side/etc will manage to get their act together. We can hope, I guess.