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I had the opportunity to relocate to an area that would be more affordable for me; however, I declined because the three specialists I require were over a hundred miles away. Making a 200 mile round trip when I have to see those doctors at least 6 times a year was definitely not feasible.
This is an interesting thread that I've recently had to deal with. I was living in crap hole Las Vegas, land of the worst medical care, when I started to grow huge tumors. This was the first serious medical issue of my life that required surgery. (Even getting my blood drawn in Las Vegas was RIDICULOUS, consisting of three hour wait times!)
When things got complicated, I decided to move back to IL for specialists. However, even where I live isn't close enough to a Level 1 trauma hospital, where I needed to have a secondary emergency surgery to save my life. I just happened to be in the right place at the right time, at my doctors office in the city, which was attached to the hospital. I'm still looking to move somewhere even more convenient with a better hospital!
So absolutely live where you'll receive the best and most convenient care! It's just too scary and stressful not too! Do your homework to make sure those specialists will be there.
I had someone tell me that I'd want to live near the doctors I have. I thought that was the saddest thing I've ever heard. Yes, it can be important with a chronic illness. But the fact is that I've lost two husbands now and both died in a short period of time. Having a great doctor wouldn't have helped.
And the interesting thing is that my great pulmonologist came from Johnson City TN. I talked to him about it yesterday. He said it was the prettiest place he's ever lived in. I think I'm ready to take my chances with East TN.
Why is it saddest, or even a a sad thing for you to hear that? Just because it worked out so in your life so far or that it is what you prefer doesn't make it right for everyone? One solution does not need to fit all. What you or your doctor find the prettiest might not be prettiest to someone else - or vice versa.
There are tradeoffs in locating yourself anywhere - and they are different for different people or even the same person might look at them differently based upon the turn life takes. I am glad that you are happy with your choice - and take all the pleasure you deserve for making it. But, to generalize your reasoning to others is a poor idea. Give others the same freedom to decide their best option - without becoming or commenting on how sad it makes you.
I had someone tell me that I'd want to live near the doctors I have. I thought that was the saddest thing I've ever heard. Yes, it can be important with a chronic illness. But the fact is that I've lost two husbands now and both died in a short period of time. Having a great doctor wouldn't have helped.
The older you get, the more important access to specialists and quality hospital care usually become. If you're the exception to the rule, thank whatever god or God you pray to for it. Having a great doctor may not have helped your husband, but not all of us will keel over suddenly and die. Both of my parents died suddenly, but my sister spent 26 years dying slowly from MS and the collapse of her immune system.
I have prostate cancer (low grade) and atrial fibrillation. The fact that I want to live near high quality medical care is not "sad", it's my choice. I don't want or need anyone's pity because they think my situation is "sad".
I'll also point out that there's a medical school in Johnson City TN so it's hardly out in the boonies.
I had someone tell me that I'd want to live near the doctors I have. I thought that was the saddest thing I've ever heard. Yes, it can be important with a chronic illness. But the fact is that I've lost two husbands now and both died in a short period of time. Having a great doctor wouldn't have helped.
And the interesting thing is that my great pulmonologist came from Johnson City TN. I talked to him about it yesterday. He said it was the prettiest place he's ever lived in. I think I'm ready to take my chances with East TN.
Other than cardiology, I wouldn’t trust local doctors here with anything serious. I see people bounced out of area all the time.
The older you get, the more important access to specialists and quality hospital care usually become. If you're the exception to the rule, thank whatever god or God you pray to for it. Having a great doctor may not have helped your husband, but not all of us will keel over suddenly and die. Both of my parents died suddenly, but my sister spent 26 years dying slowly from MS and the collapse of her immune system.
I have prostate cancer (low grade) and atrial fibrillation. The fact that I want to live near high quality medical care is not "sad", it's my choice. I don't want or need anyone's pity because they think my situation is "sad".
I'll also point out that there's a medical school in Johnson City TN so it's hardly out in the boonies.
JC is an hour from Asheville, which itself is facing issues with a for-profit buying out the local system and about an hour and a half from Knoxville, TN.
Johnson City Medical Center recently got a 1/5 star rating from a government board, putting it in the bottom 5% of hospitals nationally.
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