Louise Rosand: Patient assigned to 5 different providers in 10 years

To The Daily Sun,

I know there is a problem nationwide, even worldwide, with having enough medical providers for all of us, especially general practitioners, but I think Concord Hospital has contributed to the problem here in the Lakes Region. How or why I don't know but I have some guesses.

My story: I had a great advanced practice registered nurse for many years, she left, I think, mainly due to patient overload; then another great APRN for several years who left due to patient overload (approx. 2,000); then another APRN, who only stayed one year, then another APRN who only stayed for one year — she literally left the day after I had my semi-annual appointment with her, with no mention of her leaving when I saw her. Then I get a letter from CH about my APRN leaving and that I am assigned to a doctor that is coming into the practice whom I have never met. If you're counting, that would be five primary care physicians in about 10 years. The original letter was about a week after the APRN left; a second letter (exactly the same as the first) came about two weeks after that. Having a rather lengthy and complicated medical history (whose isn't?), I do not appreciate all this upheaval. I want one person to be my medical coordinator while I see specialists for the major problems. I want that one person to know my history and my needs without having to worry about if they've gone over their allotted time limit. If it sounds like I'm angry about this, that's right. I just may be looking for a PCP that is not in the Concord Hospital system, but there again lies the same problem as I have already.

Louise Rosand

Belmont