GENERAL Medical Services for Aspies

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This is reposted from a thread on dealing with authority figures.

Medical doctors, and medical facilities in general, run on an assumption that the doctor is an authority to be obeyed. That does not necessarily work well with Aspies. So finding a doctor that an Aspie can work well with can be a problem. My own situation at the present is that I have just relocated and am trying to figure out what doctor I should be going to for general health issues. After narrowing the field initially based on which ones accept my health insurance, I am concerned about finding one that I, (as an aspie), can establish a good working relationship with.

Medical doctors are generally treated as authority figures. I don't always do so well with authority figures especially when they are used to being, or think that they should be, treated as special authorities. It is my body ! I am looking for assistance, not doctor's orders or dictates. I will do my best to communicate and cooperate so long as the doctor understands my objectives and needs. I have had some good doctors! I have left others, and I have been "thrown out" by some, (could probably have sued too, but that's not me).

That being said, does anyone have comments or insights on the matter of Aspies dealing with or even finding medical doctors for general medical needs, (not asperger's diagnosis or treatment or other mental health issues)?

If you are in the united States, I recommend going to one of the chains of 24 hour med clinics in place of your primary doctor in many circumstances. Still have your specialists like psychiatrist, dermatologist, gynocologist/urologyst, dentist, or whatever else you specifically need. But I have found that the only times I need my regular doctor are for minor infections, minor wounds, or other conditions that need immediate treatment but are not an emergency. For these I go to a local 24-hour clinic which is privately run, takes insurance, has their own lab, and prescribes and fills prescriptions in-house. If I have a sinus infection, for example, I can go there immediatly, wait only 20 minutes, be seen, get my meds, and pay only $20 and be out of there. If I called my regular doctor, I'd have to wait several weeks for an appointment, and then spend half a day waiting there anyway.

I know this isn't the advice you were looking for, but I thought I'd share this anyway. Of course, primary care doctors can still be very useful, especially if they know you well.

I never liked any of my doctors till now. My family recently switched from our old doctor, (who in our opinions was an @$$ who didn't even do his job right) to Dr. R. A friend of my mom's from work recommended him, and we all like him. I think its because he doesn't seem like a doctor. He's a very good doctor but his not full of himself, doesn't dress like a doctor, shows concern for his patients on more than just an "oh your sick and need treatment" level, and treats all his patients like friends. He shows that hes there to help his patients on a mutual level not just make money.

A younger doc will usually have a more collaborative attitude than an older one, in my experience. Medicine has changed its focus considerably from the older, more patriarchal/condescending one, to one more collaborative with the patient. A physician with a family medicine focus is probably your best bet for kindness and respect for the individual, and a nurse practitioner for the routine and preventative care would be able to take even more time with you. If you establish care a primary care provider (either MD, DO, NP, or a physician's assistant), he or she would get to know you over time and can help you meet your health care goals.
(I should write brochures for a living LOL.)