Doctors and medical histories

[CapnNismo]

This is why it's so much nicer to go to a doctor in the countryside... you don't get any of the city-doctor BS.

[brookie]

Yes, here you can go to any specialist of your choice for whatever complaint you have.

If you have an E-card you can go to two different ones each quarter without even using the middleman of a GP. An überweisung from a GP is only necessary if you exceed those two per quarter. Example: I need a skin specialist and an eye doctor, I make an appt. directly with those two of my choice using my ecard but I also need to go to the gyno in the same quarter, only then would it necessary for me to get an überweisung form from him. No fuss, they just hand you the form and off you go.

If you have no other questions for the GP then you don't even need to see him and just pick up the requested referral form at reception. The system has changed in the last few years making it simpler.

True, this then begs the question what does one actually need a GP for? One thought is maybe it's best to be registered should something happen in the middle of the night or out of hours but then again the Notarzt (emergency doctor) (tel no. 141) takes care of that issue.

Like previous posters have said, in the UK, only by the grace of the GP who decides if your case is serious enough to warrant bothering the untouchables in white coats, you have no say whatsoever in whom you see or even which hospital you are referred to. As if they know everything and all about the human body. I doubt it. The GP then writes for a referral appointment to the hospital/consultant of his choice - you have no say in the matter - he then has to wait for a reply, with the horrendous administration system there, this could and usually does, take weeks if not months, you then receive an appointment again usually weeks away, as well as being rather inflexible if you happen to miss it for any good reason, you simply go to the bottom of the queue again. All that is unnecessary time wasting bureaucracy, when, as we all know, prompt timing is in some cases essential to life or death or at least long term distress. No wonder their waiting lists for routine care are horrendous.

Here, you just walk in. At any time. In my 8 years here I have never, ever waited more than 48 hours to see a specialist, ever. I have seen specialists for all sorts of things that wouldn't even be considered important in the UK. If I don't like the feedback then I can have the option of a second opinion again within a short time frame. If I've exceeded my two-free-goes, if you like, then all I have to do is get a form from the GP reception.

Regarding personal medical notes, I agree with posters above that in the UK you might only get what they want you (as an ignorant patient) to see. And that for a fee. And a million security questions. Probably accompanied by condescendence. Again taking weeks/months.

I have collected quite an impressive portfolio here where I can track my blood tests, compare x rays, any other exams/tests including optician and hospital stays. It's called taking responsibility for your own health and not relying on someone not to mix up your notes with another. A regular story of the tabloids in the UK. Sadly.

I may have been here too long now but a question from my father (in UK) about some minor problem he is having, prompted me to immediately ask him, if they had sent him for a full blood test, yet, since I now take this as a matter of course, and being shocked that no such thing was even offered.

Finally, I'm not ill in the sense of chronic to warrant all these tests in my folder. I just have been more often here because I feel I have been looked after, and at, more thoroughly than I ever did in UK and have taken advantage of that. Of course it comes at a price, the Krankenkassa is not cheap, but soooo worth it.