WarehamWater.Cruelery.Com - Wareham, MA / Why We Need A Medical Center

Hamatron5000 · 2009-09-02 07:51:18

I have not confirmed if this is still the case, but I know at least recently, and for many years in recent years, no primary care physician in Wareham has been taking on new patients.

Someone correct me if I'm wrong, but I believe that is still the case. I know that was the case recently and for several years prior.

Wareham has a primary care physician shortage. With that shortage, if you have a doctor in Wareham you don't like, tough noogies, you can't switch to a new one unless you go out of town.

If you move to Wareham and want a primary care physician, tough noogies, you have to find one out of town.

And if you are a senior that can't drive and don't have any friends or family you can rely on, well, going to your primary care doctor, especially if it is out of town, can be a Herculean effort. I'd imagine it's hard to the point that many seniors don't go unless they have some serious symptoms going on - and by then it's often too late.

QUESTION - Why is our incompetent board of selectmen not aware of this? Why do they claim to represent the people, but they know nothing of this primary care physician shortage? Why do they claim to care about seniors, but they'll stand in the way of a medical center?

Makepeace wants to build a medical center in Wareham and put houses in Plymouth. Sounds like a good deal. What is their problem, other than that a company that they have an agenda against wants to do it?

These people care about seniors? They want to do something to help seniors?

Then how about they overlook their personal biases and let this medical center go forward - so that when the elderly get sick (or when the young get sick, for that matter) they can get help locally - so they don't have to go out of their way to travel long distances, so they can get the help they need right here in town.

One big mouthed BOS member sends a nasty and insulting e-mail to this company? And last night they sat there acting like they should be able to dictate what doctors come into the building? They want to pretend like they know about local medicine, but they don't appear to know about the primary care physician shortage? I know for all of Ragboy's rantings about how he cares about people, he's never mentioned it in his paper. I'm sure this posting will be the first time these people have ever heard of it.

Our side supports a company's effort to bring a medical center to Wareham. Their side wants to pass out cards for tooth brushes.

Who cares more about seniors?

Last edited by Hamatron5000 (2009-09-02 07:54:26)

Larry McDonald · 2009-09-02 08:14:57

Ham,
I had to get my primary out of Plymouth because I couldn't wait 4 months for an appointment and there was only 1 primary taking new patients in 2007.

I care a great deal about seniors. I believe we should consider putting senior housing closer to the amenities, not Westfield. Has anyone researched locations for affordable seniorhousing?

Molly · 2009-09-02 08:15:03

Ham,
You are right about the doctor situation in town. It's not just primaries either. We have a dearth of specialists also. Most of us go to No. Dartmouth, Falmouth, Plymouth or finally to Boston for care. Most of us would prefer not to drive up there but sometimes you have to.

Here's the bottom line--ADM has a reputable tenant in Southcoast who has done studies on exactly what is needed in this area. They have 3 lenders ready with money, and as Hogan said, in this economy that says a lot. In fact, it says a lot about ADM.

This is another example of the bos's personal vendettas getting in the way of what is best for Wareham. I was appalled at the bos actually telling Hogan what kind of x-ray equipment we need here. They should have shut up after the email show down and listened. Once Hogan said Soutcoast had come to them to ENLARGE the facility after studying what is best for this area, they should have shut up and said thank you, thank you. It is embarrassing to hear our bos talking about things they know nothing about. It's ok to ask a question, but not to scold and demand things. Of course, this is true in other areas as well.

All of the bos were unprepared last night. They had to postpone many things because of it. I was glad they passed the sewer request Hogan made, but not before they added some qualifier to it.

LIZdaGNOME · 2009-09-02 09:13:38

ham, i got in as a new patient for a dr in wareham only 1 draw back with her while she is a primary care dr she only sees WOMEN.. i know the gleason spiro etc pratice closed up so to speak and those prior patients had to go to new bedford of TRY to find another dr..

billw · 2009-09-02 09:17:24

Hamatron5000 wrote:
I have not confirmed if this is still the case, but I know at least recently, and for many years in recent years, no primary care physician in Wareham has been taking on new patients.

My primary retired, sort of, after 35 years, his practice now confined to the elderly, and reimbersed at a far more profitable rate.

Building a new facility will not magically attract civic minded primary care docs, who once beat down our door to get in here. It's a national problem.

And no, I don't have a doctor anymore. I wait until 3 in the morning and visit the ER.

Molly · 2009-09-02 09:31:47

The advantage is that other Southcoast docs from their other facilities might do hours here in town. That's how if often works with these larger groups. Some doctors have patients in several hospitals etc. It is a good thing for Wareham.

billw · 2009-09-02 09:46:15

Molly wrote:
The advantage is that other Southcoast docs from their other facilities might do hours here in town.

South Coast and other providers like them know our health care system's broken. They broke it and nothing they do will fix it.

Wareham's existing medical facilities are the envy of much larger towns that somehow serve their populations better. I'd much rather see where the national debate washes out before we throw any more down that rat hole.

Last edited by billw (2009-09-02 09:47:27)

phantomPI · 2009-09-02 11:22:33

Primary Care

Personnel at Tobey Hospital :

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Dr. Brian Fitzpatrick MD

Site Tobey Hospital

Address Tobey Hospital
43 High Street, 1st Floor

City Wareham

State MA

Zip 02571

Location Map Click for Map

Phone 508-291-4359

Specialty Family Practice

He also had another primary Dr at his pratice and a Physician asst that see pts!!

billw · 2009-09-02 11:27:19

phantomPI wrote:
Primary Care

Personnel at Tobey Hospital :

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Dr. Brian Fitzpatrick MD

A-huh. Name one other.

marny · 2009-09-02 11:48:13

There are a lot of doctors not only in Wareham but also on the Cape that don't want to take any more Medicad patients I know it's illegal to ask but a friend of mine was looking for a primary care doctor and the first thing they asked was what kind of insurance had. I also thought Medicare had a cap on how much they would pay doctors.

phantomPI · 2009-09-02 12:44:56

The other Dr. Alferado Gonzales,, not sure on the spelling of his name, he is also out of that office, maybe you should call. The also take new Pts because my wife got into that office, when all the other had very long waits..