Switching doctors in same practice?

disneyfanforever

DIS Veteran
Joined
Jan 12, 2001
Messages
1,391
Is it frowned up to switch doctors in the same practice? I would appreciate any advice. I am currently having issues with cellulitis. My regular doctor retired, and I have seen the new doctor twice during this issue as well as being admitted to the hospital for IV antibiotics for two days. My leg now seems to be getting worse again even though I am still on antibiotics, and I would really like to see another doctor for another opinion. Is that wrong of me to request? Is it even allowed? This issue has been going on for over two weeks now, and I am really worried that it is getting worse.
 
If you've been in the hospital for IV antibiotics, a second opinion is most certainly okay to ask for. The first doctor won't mind, and it's your right as a patient.

And even if the doc DOES mind, what is more important -- your health, or the doc's feelings?
 
Is it frowned up to switch doctors in the same practice? I would appreciate any advice. I am currently having issues with cellulitis. My regular doctor retired, and I have seen the new doctor twice during this issue as well as being admitted to the hospital for IV antibiotics for two days. My leg now seems to be getting worse again even though I am still on antibiotics, and I would really like to see another doctor for another opinion. Is that wrong of me to request? Is it even allowed? This issue has been going on for over two weeks now, and I am really worried that it is getting worse.
My husband had the same issue this summer. They brought in an infectious disease doctor in the hospital. They had to try 2 different antibiotic before they found one that worked. He is also seeing a vein specialist. I would request a referral for a specialist.
 
I remember switching DS from one pediatrician to another in the same practice (as he got older, he just preferred seeing a guy) and it wasn't a problem at all. The secretaries we're able to change it easily.
 

My DH has been through cellulitis more times than I can count. It started from a brown recluse spider bite that went into necrotizing fasciiti. He was in the hospital for 2 weeks with IV antibiotics and did a last ditch effort of doubling 2 different antibiotics. The alternative was amputation. It started in his lower leg and spread up to nearly his hip. He had infectious disease doctors called in for this.

Anyway, he’s also been to the hospital for IV antibiotics many times. What was done to him a couple of times, a magic marker was used to draw lines on his leg as to where it was red/swollen. If the infection spread past that line, go back immediately to the ER. Be careful, one time DH was nearly septic from cellulitis. He gets it very bad and it goes south very quickly.

With all that being said, perhaps it isn’t the correct antibiotic for you. If you think it is getting worse, go for the 2nd opinion. It’s your health and you are your own best advocate. If you feel you need to go back to the ER, go. Some ER docs don’t believe DH that he can get so sick, so fast from cellulitis. One time, he had to go to the ER via ambulance and the doctor said his dizziness was from vertigo and his flushed faced was windburn. They did admit him and the doc the next morning was stunned that they couldn‘t see it was cellulitis.

(((HUGS)))
 
Only issue I can see is if the other Doctor is accepting new patients.
 
My PCP retired and they assigned me to another doc in the practice.
They gave me a bit of a hassle about switching to the provider I wanted.
After a few phone calls back and forth, the office manager "allowed" me to switch.

I would ask for a referral over to a wound clinic for your immediate concerns.
The wound clinic will follow you until it's healed up.
 
I have done it three times in the same practice. My original Dr who was great decided he wanted to start seeing fewer patients so he switched his practice to concierge medicine. I was not going to pay him $1500.00 per year just to see him once a year so It took me changing three times in the same practice to find one I was comfortable with. No one ever seemed to care.
 
I work for a large medical provider group. People switch providers all the time and we don't have any problem with it. Sometimes you just don't gel with one even if everyone else loves them.
 
I just switched this month.
Years ago I saw Dr. R a few times but not regular.
Got Medicare five years ago & was going to go back to him but reading profiles on their website, I decided to go with Dr. T, absolutely loved her, then she moved out of state so I started going back to Dr. R. Almost 2 years later, I just felt like he wasn't really listening to me so I called their office to cancel my appointment for yesterday & just happened to ask if I could switch to another doctor. So I saw Dr. J yesterday at the same practice & really like her so we will see...
The only thing was I was glad I didn't run into Dr. R while I was there, lol.
 
Thank you all for the replies. Luckily, my leg doesn’t seem to any worse than yesterday so I am trying to just keep on the antibiotics. If it doesn’t get better soon or starts looking worse, I am going to call and ask to switch to another doctor. Even if it gets better, I still think I want to switch doctors when I go for my follow up. I don’t think she is the right doctor for me.
 
Is it frowned up to switch doctors in the same practice? I would appreciate any advice. I am currently having issues with cellulitis. My regular doctor retired, and I have seen the new doctor twice during this issue as well as being admitted to the hospital for IV antibiotics for two days. My leg now seems to be getting worse again even though I am still on antibiotics, and I would really like to see another doctor for another opinion. Is that wrong of me to request? Is it even allowed? This issue has been going on for over two weeks now, and I am really worried that it is getting worse.
Is it wrong of you to try to receive better medical care? Absolutely not. You should advocate for the best care you can get.

Some practices try to discourage doctor switching because they have some doctors on the team who are markedly better than others, which leads to significant doctor switching. That isn't the patient's fault; the issue is the lack of quality of the less skilled doctors. When my son's pediatric neurologist never showed up when he was supposed to during my son's 24-hour EEG, and then also didn't call or share the (existing) EEG results with us for days, we switched to another doctor in the practice who a therapist recommended to us. The practice warned us that once we switched, we wouldn't be able to switch back. Just fine with us, I said. The other doctor was head & shoulders above the first doctor in terms of skill and professionalism. Now that practice won't allow people to switch at all, unfortunately for those who get stuck with the bad doctor due to lack of knowledge upon initial booking.

Most practices aren't like that, though, and will behave professionally and simply switch you upon your request.
 
Last edited:
Is this your GP or a specialist? Probably want an infectious disease specialist or an immunologist or both in case you need more complicated therapy. Some infections can be really tricky and on the other hand some Dr's don't know when to say they are out of their depth. If you are small town I'd ask for a second opinion from the biggest hospital in your state, it could be a few hundred but could save your life.
 
This is my GP clinic. I have thought about trying to see an Infectious Disease specialist if the cellulitis does not clear with this round of antibiotics. I am not sure if I can just make an appointment with one or if I have to get a referral. I do live near the biggest city in our state so I am sure there are specialists available.
 
This is my GP clinic. I have thought about trying to see an Infectious Disease specialist if the cellulitis does not clear with this round of antibiotics. I am not sure if I can just make an appointment with one or if I have to get a referral. I do live near the biggest city in our state so I am sure there are specialists available.

Honestly, your best bet if things go south again is to drive to that city and go to the ER at the best hospital they have. They will likely have an infectious disease doc on staff there.
 
My husband had to see a urologist. Went to appointment, he went to exam room and I stayed in waiting area. Within 30 seconds (no lie) my husband started to text me...doctor ordering many tests (blood work, scans and even an outpatient surgical procedure) and then texts "doctor said this could kill me). I went back to exam room with my husband, doctor already gone. I called the office and requested another doctor. They said the doctor who my husband saw today would have to give his okay and they other doctor will have to accept. Told them that shouldn't be a problem because he saw him only once and that was for less than 5 minutes. In the end, we switched and it was the best decision. If we couldn't have switched, I would of taken him to a different practice. Turns out my husband had a kidney stone and it was so small he passed it on his own.
 
When my gynecologist retired, I was assigned to another in the practice but for whatever reasons we just didn’t click. After the second visit I asked if I could switch and it was no problem. I like this doctor much better.
 












Save Up to 30% on Rooms at Walt Disney World!

Save up to 30% on rooms at select Disney Resorts Collection hotels when you stay 5 consecutive nights or longer in late summer and early fall. Plus, enjoy other savings for shorter stays.This offer is valid for stays most nights from August 1 to October 11, 2025.
CLICK HERE







New Posts







DIS Facebook DIS youtube DIS Instagram DIS Pinterest

Back
Top