PCP’s specialist recommendations

[Anonymous]

My PCP, the head of doctors in his practice, had the habit of recommending me specialists with the most negative online reviews. Some doctors don’t have any reviews. I went to see two of the doctors with mixed reviews and came to the conclusion the negative reviews were right. From the long waiting time to unwillingness to explain the conditions, arrogance seems to flourish in these physicians. How do you interpret these continuous odd recommendations from PCP?

[Anonymous]

My PCP had a typed list of specialists she would give me - the same list over about a decade. ALL The doctors were in her building and it seemed to be the reason. One of them was retired and another one actually died and the list stayed the same, with their names on it.

Sometimes your PCP isn't the best person to recommend a specialist.

[Anonymous]

My PCP just read off the recommendations she got from Google. I started looking up specialists on my own.

[Anonymous]

Yeah I don’t always go by who they recommend. It’s also often drs they know, not necessarily those who are good.
-wife of a physician

[Anonymous]

Not my PCP but another specialist (hematologist) referred me to a rheumatologist, and she was the absolute worst doctor I had ever seen in my life. I finally switched to someone else and told my hematologist how bad she was, and he said he had heard others say similar! Couldn’t believe he had continued to recommend her, since I liked him and trusted him. I think they just don’t have a great way to builf these connections outside of their immediate practice areas. That said my PCP recommended my hematologist, so at least that was a good rec.