10-23-2010, 04:18 PM
Carol, I have worked in healthcare for over forty years, thirty of them for Kaiser. For most of my life, I have not needed physician care, but when I did I was lucky to be able to choose someone I worked with and knew professionally. Most people don't enjoy that advantage and are faced with very little knowledge of a new provider. A physician's personality often drives our opinions, rather than true understanding of his ability to provide good care. K-Cat's comment is right, as evidenced by the evaluations of Dr. Hu.
To keep this short: Kaiser is different from fee-for-service providers. Patients are able to advocate for themselves much more easily. I won't expound on this, but it is possible. Kaiser has resources beyond Hilo for serious or difficult conditions- but you may need to ask or insist. The "Patient Assistance" component of the organization is underused, but a basic tool of every Kaiser member.
Over the years, Kaiser has been a lightening rod for medical mistakes in the press, but as the largest integrated healthcare organization in the country, I believe that is understandable. As this discussion demonstrates, provider evaluation is a very personal matter. Best of luck to you.
To keep this short: Kaiser is different from fee-for-service providers. Patients are able to advocate for themselves much more easily. I won't expound on this, but it is possible. Kaiser has resources beyond Hilo for serious or difficult conditions- but you may need to ask or insist. The "Patient Assistance" component of the organization is underused, but a basic tool of every Kaiser member.
Over the years, Kaiser has been a lightening rod for medical mistakes in the press, but as the largest integrated healthcare organization in the country, I believe that is understandable. As this discussion demonstrates, provider evaluation is a very personal matter. Best of luck to you.