Are specialists family docs too? - General Health Message Board

BIH_2006 · 01-25-2007, 02:11 PM

I'm curious about that.

I went to the site which is the the site for the doctors and surgeons of my province..it states that person is accepting patients. Does that mean that person can be my personal doctor? (even though they specialize in something) Or are those doctors only used when a family doctor sends you to the,?

I feel I know which area my problem is in, and I would like to have an appointment with that specialist right away. I dont even know if I can do that though.

Thanks

microwave · 01-25-2007, 08:44 PM

Personal (or primary care doctors) aren't usually specialists. They are general practicioners or primary care doctors. You need to check with your insurance plan. Some allow you to go directly to a specialist: some require a primary care doctor to refer you to one.

BIH_2006 · 01-25-2007, 08:54 PM

Insurance plan?

I live in Canada. My visits are free.

dustoffkid · 01-26-2007, 05:41 AM

Specialists generally only see patients for the problems that are part of their specialty. Primary care doctors (AKA Family Practice) see everything else.

So if you have a cold, you go to Family Practice. If it's the heart, you go to family practice and they send you to cardiology. But you don't go to Cardiology for a cold. Does that make sense?