Lyme Disease Support Group

Actually, depending on which "island" all education is FREE. Yup, free. They do this because the population is normally quite sparse, and hope to educate some of their own population, and keep them THERE to help their "island".

I know that here in Canad, we have many MD's that are not even practicing due to the "ineligibility" of their paper and schooling. They MUST take many 'refresher-style' courses and upgrades, etc....In some cases, it has gone WAY too far. We have brain surgeons' from European countries with standards higher than our own...working as janitors. There, rant over!

It may be that this Dr. you saw is being very cautious , and following protocol to the letter. I am sure there is a probationary period where he is watched closely, if new. Also, if he did not STAY and practice medicine on his "island" for (normally 5 years) , some have clauses where they must pay a portion of their tuition fee's back.

I believe we all know there are 'better' medical schools than others...that being said, I also believe that an intuitive and curious student can overcome (and should) any shortfalls prior to becoming licensed. Curious minds and determination for answers can easily make up for a "lesser" medical school. IMO.

Doctors and veterinians probably mark my charts as "difficult" I question everything. I was actually seeing a nurse practisioner for years and just found out she's no longer there. Great I get to start over. I absolutely hate getting the bums rush when doctors over book. I watch what tests they do because my insurance stinks and the co-pays are very high. It really depends on how you felt about this doctor. Most people learn about thier ailments on thier own, so they understand better. If you don't feel confident with the test or treatments he suggests it wouldn't matter what school he went to. If you go back to this doctor and feel your getting the bums rush and he's overbooked again, I'd think about a different doctor. Another thing I learned is make my appointments early in the day, so getting backed up from emergencys or whatever wont be an issue.

I know a doc that went to school in the islands. Honestly, his wife told me that the medical schools in the states were so competitive that he did not get in (had played a bit in college, before he knew what he wanted to do, I think)....That said, he excelled in med school (it was not just a degree mill) and in his field. The hospital that employs him is affiliated with a university, and he was in charge of training interns. So, for some, a med school on an island might be the way to enter the medicine world through the back door, I guess?

I have also heard what Moreel said about doctors not being able to get into med school in the states. You can get a terrible doctor from the best medical school -- remember the old joke -- "What do you call the guy who graduated last in his class of medical students? Doctor." There's a lot of truth to that.
The other thing is that it isn't only the doctor who affects our medical care -- his staff can make it really difficult to get to him, or be rude or just plain unhelpful. Is he a new doctor? Maybe that's why he wanted to cha with the pregnancy test.
Ultimately you have to decide if you can build a relationship with this guy or not. Good luck.

Agreed. I guess he just really kept me waiting too long to make a favorable first impression, which is important. So, regardless of whether he went through his training somewhere outside the country, that is unprofessional and comes off in my opinion for what it's worth on the subject as disorganized... It's nothing personal as I thought he was a swell person and it's great that he found a way to go to school, but my appointment was at 10:00 am By the time he ran from room to room and finally got to me and finished with all the running around it was 12 noon! And then he expected me to go from there to be x-rayed and given a pregnancy

Seems a tad scattered is all. I came back and googled him and found that island alum page! Just wondered.

I'm not saying that his education is what fazes me. And, I'm not saying I won't go back. I'm just saying hmmm. This is frustrating.

We as the consumer patient are armed with a lot of info before going in to the appointment courtesy of sites like this and Dr. Google.

Here's a site to see if your doc is "board certified"...like education it doesn't matter. Rapport does.

https://www.abms.org/WC/SearchResu...



http://www.abms.org/Who_We_Help/Co...

Not that it's required either if they're a good doc, go with it.

The docotors open mindedness is more important than where he was educated. but if he was so overbooked thta he was unable to listen to his patients then that is a big problem. I beleive he'd have to pass state boards in the state he practices in so that would be a way too confirm that he knows the basics.
Much of what we need is not taught in med school anyway. we need the docotors who have gone above and beyond to understand this disease that science does not even agree on yet.

Julie, you said it!