Feel like I'll be "Cheating" on my neuro

I am switching insurance plans January 1. The new plan is one that houses all its services in 1 building. The general practioner, the pharmacy, the lab, and even a few specialists including a neuro, are all in 1 building.

My current neuro is a contracted provider, so I can get a referral from the primary doctor to continue seeing my neuro.

But what if I tried out "their" neuro? Just to get a new perspective, a new "set of eyes" looking at my case. I've been going to my current neuro's practice for about 5 or 6 years. There is one main doctor and several physician's assistants and even other MDs, so I've seen several practioners while being a steady patient there. My file is several volumes thick.

But what if I gave the new in-house neuro a try? I feel like I would be cheating on my current neuro, like going behind their back to get care. But I just want to see what a new neuro would do for me, how they would approach my meds and manage my care.

My current neuro is fabulous, they have me on a resonable amount of daily pain medication and offer me suitable treatment for acute bouts of pain that arise. I don't want to rock the boat and get dismissed from their care.

But, just, what if the neuro at the new place is... better...?

Go for it Trixy! As long as you are playing by the clinic rules you should totally go for it. It never hurts to have another opinion. No one person can be up to date on every new treatment, no matter how hard they try, so getting another opinion is a great idea...and even possibly a win-win situation for you.

Yes, by all means be open about it. It would LOOK terrible if your current neuro thought you were doctor shopping to get more meds. Unfortunately from what I understand of my pain contract this is a common practice that really undermines your relationship with Dr.

Explain about the convience and possibility of insurance covering more and you want to scope it out. No Dr. Worth his salt would be offended by that.

Yes, all valid points, thanks. Luckily, the way the calendar falls, I have a December appointment with the current neuro and then a January appointment with the new primary. That gives me the opportunity to share with the current neuro what happens January 1, so they will know I have to see the new primary first to get a referral to see any doctor in their office in 2011. I will mention that they have an in-house neuro that they may want me to see first. I agree keeping the current neuro informed is the way to go.

I don't have a written or formal pain contract with the neuro, it's just the honor system. Which, obviously, I am honoring.