Show me your… Clinic

[numbersguy82]

I was at my clinic today seeing my ID Doc after having my labs pulled last week. Leaving the clinic, I got to thinking about what this experience must be like for everyone else on these forums. Mostly I was curious about your clinic and why you chose it. I imagine for most it may be as simple as not having another option.

I am fortunate enough to live in Boston which has dozens of clinics to choose from. I go to Tufts Medical Biewend located next to the Common in the theatre district. In fact my clinic is located inside the Wang Theatre (I’m resisting the urge to make a joke here)

My doctor is Gabriela Andujar-Vasquez. Initially I just picked a name from a provider list, but she’s actually the perfect doctor for me. She’s young and keeps up with the latest studies/trends yet isn’t too set in her ways that she resists my input on care.

So show me your clinic! Who knows someone else in your area may be looking to make a change in their own care.

[kentfrat1783]

Oh you so got me on your subject and had to click.  Always fun to learn about the various clinics that are avaialble in our areas. 

I've had three ID Specialist since I was Dx'd and have been verry happy with my 2nd and 3rd Specialist. 



My 2nd Specialist was at Cleveland Clinic and seen Dr. Tungsiripat (and her fellows) and I would highly recomend them to anyone that wants a second opinion or just wants top notch healthcare and able to get their. 



Then, after a hospital stay at the end of 2022, I met up with a new ID Speciliast, Dr. McLeod, locally in Marietta, OH so I no longer needing a 3 hour drive and this has been a great fit.  I believe since I now consider myself stable, having things under control, and he still takes time during our appointments to be what I need. 

Dr. McLeod has also talked about becoming my PCP and will probably talk about that in the coming visits but being able to see one Dr. would just be amazing.  Just have to see how things work out.

[leatherman]

Before I left OH, I researched to make sure there was a reputable clinic to go to .... especially since I was going to South Carolina, a state with a small population, few urban areas, a lot of poverty and a lot of religious-tainted bullsh!t "conservative" nonsense. The doctor I had in Canton OH was awesome (Marc Fiorentino, M.D.) and if I wasn't going to get decent care in SC I was going to figure out how to stay up there (although I was moving home because I was days from becoming homeless). I researched patient reviews and clinic financial documents, along with info from the SC health dpt, ADAP and Ryan White coverage and state performance.

I stayed at the SC clinic (where the doctor was just so-so; but the staff was great) for six years, where I also started doing a lot of my volunteer patient advocacy. Unfortunately I wasn't on board with all the changes that happened to this clinic as it transitioned from an HIV care clinic to an FQHC (federally qualified health center); fortunately my advocacy work with Ryan White let me meet a lot of doctors from across the state line in North Carolina, and let me know that I could cross the state line and be covered by SC Ryan White (only because my SC county is part of the Charlotte NC Ryan White TGA (transitional grant area).

So seven years ago, my husband and I moved to Amity Medical Group in CLT. Although it's an hour drive from where we live in next to nowhere SC, I was really hyped to get medical care there as the HIV Specialist who would be our provider had also co-chaired the CLT TGA Ryan White Quality management program for three years.......with yours truly, me! Wes Thompson had been giving HIV care for as long as I had been receiving HIV care (31 years) and I knew that he was a knowledgeable compassionate provider.

Sadly, for me, HIV health care was a job for Wes and he recently retired. Thankfully though he had been mentoring his replacement, Jason L. Hardin MSN, AGNP-C, AAHIVS, for about 5 years. (three of those years, Jason and I chaired the Peer Support group and did legislative and health fair HIV advocacy). We couldn't be happier with Jason as our health care provider.


Amity Medical Group
W.T. Harris Blvd location
https://www.amitymed.org/

[numbersguy82]

Dr. McLeod has also talked about becoming my PCP and will probably talk about that in the coming visits but being able to see one Dr. would just be amazing.  Just have to see how things work out.

I am totally jealous of you having a combo doctor. My ID has stated that she would be my primary, but she thought it was important for me to have a separate one. The one she referred me to is literally just two floors up, and honestly I like them being separate after all.

PS your Doc is kinda cute 

Mine is cute too.... probably.... to all those that swing that way LOL

[numbersguy82]

When I started this thread I was hoping you'd reply. I JUST knew you would have an idyllic cute southern clinic... and you didn't disappoint.

That got me to thinking, I wonder if there are any mobile ID doctors zooming around larger cities and doing housecalls? That would be amazing! Then I would NEVER leave my house 

[Tonny2]

                ojo.             Hello there!… I go to the Cleveland Clinic to the department of immunology and rheumatology. My doctor is also an infectious disease doctor although he doesn’t see more HIV patients.. before that I was seeing an ID doctor Here where I live , when I were away from Cleveland. I ended up at the Cleveland Clinic because I was sent to be treated for my vasculitis with DOCTOR Calabrese who is the doctor that I see now for my HIV treatment. I like him a lot, he’s very nice and knowledgeable. he does virtual conferences with oh there HIV specialist around the world… my question is how much privacy are there in your clinics?. How do you get your medication? when I go there’s a lot of privacy in my case because he said if a specialty I see the doctor and I get my medication through the mail… I will appreciate your feedback…hugs

[numbersguy82]

my question is how much privacy are there in your clinics?. How do you get your medication? when I go there’s a lot of privacy in my case because he said if a specialty I see the doctor and I get my medication through the mail… I will appreciate your feedback…hugs

Oh wow the Cleveland Clinic has very prestigious name recognition, you are very lucky to be able to go there Tonny!

Well my clinic has many specialties offers but on the 3rd floor where I go I can see my ID Doctor, they have a labcorp location, a specialty pharmacy, and also that’s where my Psychiatrist is. I only have to go to a different floor when I see my Primary care physician. So I’d say it’s private because so many different treatments are provided, so no one knows for sure who is going where. As far as the pharmacy, I am a creature of habit and choose to have my meds sent to CVS so I can pick them up. I’ve always done it that way so I haven’t changed in 15 years.

[kentfrat1783]

My ID has stated that she would be my primary, but she thought it was important for me to have a separate one.

This is interesting.  What did she think would be better with having another Dr?  Yes, I could see having another viewpoint as being good but is that truly needed? 

I already have a Neurologist on my list of Dr's so I'm thinking two is enough.  Then again my PCP is 30 minutes away and my ID is 10 minutes away so closer and easier to get too. 

PS your Doc is kinda cute

Agreed, and the pic doesn't do him justice.

My Neurologist I see locally, initally referred me to CC as he couldn't do the tests I needed.  I have came back to the local Neurologist as we know what to do. He also has a contact at CC if I need to go back to get biopsies (maybe in a few years).

my question is how much privacy are there in your clinics?. How do you get your medication? when I go there’s a lot of privacy in my case because he said if a specialty I see the doctor and I get my medication through the mail

I feel safe with my medical records at my Dr's office, when I need to get any procedures done I'm treated well, and I did get my Rx via mail order but due to the cost and never knowing when I'll be home I get it at the local pharmacy.  Did take a few calls to the insurance to get that done but so worth it.   

[Loa111]

Mine is cute too.... probably.... to all those that swing that way LOL

Lol  I got a good laugh out of how you phrased that.

Well, me absolutely 100% on the straight side of the house, I can give the assessment that both female docs are quite cute.   

And of course I am very fond of Thai women as I find them very attractive, so bonus points for the ID Doc of Thai decent! 

[numbersguy82]

Lol  I got a good laugh out of how you phrased that.

Well, me absolutely 100% on the straight side of the house, I can give the assessment that both female docs are quite cute.   

And of course I am very fond of Thai women as I find them very attractive, so bonus points for the ID Doc of Thai decent! 

Haha see how I reversed the usual saying 🤣 that’s ok you are in great company, in the “straight side of the house”, on these forums *cough cough* Jim Allen.

[Jim Allen]

Haha see how I reversed the usual saying 🤣 that’s ok you are in great company, in the “straight side of the house”, on these forums *cough cough* Jim Allen.

She looks fine, just not my type.

[Tonny2]

             ojo.           Hello there!… I was asking about the privacy that we have about that word treatment and condition. I went to Mexico one time to visit a friend who is HIV positive and he asked me to go with him to see his ID doctor. Oh man!, There is no privacy at all. If somebody sees you getting into the clinic, everybody knows that you are HIV faucet. I feel so bad for my friend because he’s a teacher and he has to look around to see if there is nobody, that may know him seeing him getting into the clinic for his bloodwork or to get his medication… it’s so sad that people has to go through this situation, especially when they are newly diagnosed.in.. it is what it is. How lucky we are for living where we live….hugs