Public Health vs private ID Doctor

[Gs87s]

Hello all! 

i have been reading alot of post and being newly positive havent responded b/c i really dont know much...still doing alot of research and have my 1st appt with the Florida Dept of Health HIV corrid tommorow.  Its going to be a few months until i can get my previous insurance to cover it.   Until then im going to seek treatment though the county health dept. 

does anyone have any advice...has anyone had good things/ bad things to say.  Considering the avenues of funding they have to go through i would imagine that treatment may not be as thorough as maybe having insurance coverage and being able to get CD4 and viral load count more often.   Any input would be constructive.  Also anyone else know of any way to help with the cost of treatment.

I found out i was (+) when i was processing for the US Navy during the blood test...and i had just tested (-) a few months before then...... have had 5 different test from the same blood sample that also tested positive.  Have also had another vial drawn and submitted for more test and those have yet to come back...honestly i dont think anything will change.  I keep very active and healthy so maybe seroconversion just took a bit longer...

Thanks again

[Miss Philicia]

I saw private doctors for a decade in NYC.  The first I had for 8 years, the last for 2 with an interim doctor that only lasted 2 appts because she was awful.

I moved to Philadelphia and went to a public clinic where I've been now for 4 years, and have had 2 doctors.  Both have been good, the current one being the best of all the doctors I've seen (he's the director of the entire clinic).  This clinic has an endowment as well as being partially funded on the municipal level, and sees patients regardless of the ability to pay (though, in fact, I personally have Medicare).  I was very wary of entering a public clinic setting but I've been nothing less than impressed with the standard of care and the dedication by staff, both medically and administratively.

I would add that there are variables involved, and would say that due to the numerous universities/medical institutes in Philadelphia there's a very good base that is tapped into.  My doctor, for example, is also a faculty member at one of these universities.  I just add that because it's the only public clinic I've gone to so I don't know how representative this experience is.  Reading posts on here with this subject will be a mix bag for clinics, but then many experiences I read of people here with private doctors sometimes also makes me shudder.

I'm far enough in my treatment experience that I'm comfortable with my ability to know if a doctor sucks or not.  If you plan on only doing the clinic route for a brief time I'd not worry one way or the other, though I understand your concern.

[Gs87s]

thanks for the speedy response!  initially i didnt have any negative thoughts but my mom being the pesimist that she is told me upon hearing that i had my initial apt at the public health dept had certain reasonable and understandable opinions about the municiple system.  But she doesnt know what she is talking about and is natorious for blind sighted opinions so i figured id ask ppl with 1st hand exp...

Thanks again!  :: Big smiles::

[kajnjewel]

I have had good experiences with both.  My last with a private; however prior to moving to her I was seeing someone at the local state funded ID clinic. At first I was seeing only the interns which were so so but thanks to the advice on one of the patients in the waiting room I was told I could request to see the AIDS specialist personally instead of interns but I may have to wait a little longer.  However, once I started requesting to see Dr. Nep the wait became much shorter and he really knew his stuff.  I only changed because I was more in Tx than here and was having problems in making my appointment.

I started in state funded hospital which was great and saw the main dr then started seeing a PA and really liked her better because she took more time with me and really taught me a lot.  That was in TX and I moved to Louisiana since.

So I have basically had good experiences with both.  BUT I really believe that is because I learned early that I needed to ask questions, talk about my concerns and that I had rights which I times I let them know it <hehe>.  Become proactive about your care and by all means become a partner with whatever doctor you have.

[midland moe]

Ive never been to a private dr, was diagnosed and sent to the public clinic where Ive been for almost a year. The lines can be long, but Ive learned to work around them....being the first one there on days I have an appointment keeps my wait to see the nurse practicioner at a minimum, Ive never even met the dr at the clinic...just seen the nurse practicioner but she is one of the nicest people I have ever met in my entire life. Im not easy to get along with, and I havent dealt well with my diagnosis mentally. They are very busy at the clinic and only able to refer me to other resources for anything but my hiv medication and care, but for that I am eternally grateful.  In all I guess Im saying the resource is overwhelmed with patients and understaffed (1 dr and 1 nurse practicioner for a city of 700,000 people) but that being said my experience has been good.