Posted by greywolf on May 31, 2009, at 1:48:43
In reply to Question for Greywolf » greywolf, posted by garnet71 on May 30, 2009, at 23:17:06
Garnet:
I found my psychiatrist first by talking to my GP, who agreed that I needed someone who was a pharmaceutical expert. He recommended two doctors.
I then sat down with my therapist (who was also a researcher at the university) and asked for the names of psychiatrists who are known for their expertise with medication. She gave me the name of a doctor who supposedly was the best in the region and who was also a published researcher. This just happened to be one of the two names my GP had given me.
It took about six weeks for me to get an appointment with him, but it was worth the wait. He listened well, made clear to me what he expected of me during treatment, and explained his approach to prescribing medication. He even ordered a listing of all prescribed medications I'd taken over the past several years from my pharmacy so that he could see if I had stuck with each to at least a therapeutic level and to catch gaps in my compliance (discontinuing meds without telling my prior doctor).
I didn't ask about malpractice insurance or lawsuits. My concern was expertise. I still don't know anything about those subjects. I just know that I am being treated by a very careful, knowledgeable practitioner who I trust implicitly.
I don't know if there's any truth to this, but you might want to find out if your potential psychiatrist does any current research in pharmacology. I would imagine that if he/she does, they'll have more than sufficient malpractice insurance. I would also inquire as to whether your potential doctor is currently in a working relationship with a reputable college or university. In my personal view, teaching or researching (particularly anything with pharmaceuticals) suggests a currency with new meds and treatments that other doctors might ( I stress might) not have.
Greywolf
poster:greywolf
thread:898025
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/20090524/msgs/898578.html