Can anyone recommend a primary care physician familiar with T1D in the Boston area? I have a good endo, but PCP clueless.
Thanks.
Are you on Medicare? If on Medicare, a clueless PCP is OK as long as their back office is well organized and can keep your records straight and up-to-date. I am on regular parts A/B/D Medicare and have a great endo in Boston, but I live in Western MA, and my PCP is a Pediatrician. My PCP is basically my record holder.
When I need anything medical, I research the best Dr for what I need in the Boston area and 95% of the time, they accept Medicare. Sometimes, they will not see you before being checked out by a lower-level NP, which is fine because they tell you where to go for that.
If you are not, or not about to be, on Medicare, this does not help.
Thanks very much. No, I’m not on Medicare.
I used to see Dr Ed Weiss at Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center Health Care Associates (BIDMC HCA). He’s no longer there but the practice (and BID) is affiliated with Joslin, which was the reason I selected them. Very conversant with T1 stuff as well as staying in their lane when it came to my Joslin Endo’s recommendations and treatment decisions. I had to leave when my wife’s employer changed insurance carriers and it was no longer in network alas. Now I’m on Medicare I’d go back except I’ve since moved out of state.
Thank you, Dr. BB, for this solid recommendation. I’ve tracked him down practicing on Washington St. in Boston, with “not accepting new patients” statement. Called anyway, got closed for lunch message. But will try again. Maybe if I say former patient testimonial and my 57 years?
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I have really tried to obtain a good number for Dr. Weiss, but he seems to have disappeared. Thanks again for trying to help.
Before I started using an endo, I remember asking my PCP diabetic related questions, & his rely was usually: “That’s a really good question!” And that was the end of the discussion. Now after many, many more years with both an endo & PCP, I basically assume that my PCP is simply not the provider to use for treatment/info re diabetes. If you have a good endo to manage your Type 1 that is optimal. Hopefully, the endo & PCP share data, blood work, clinical notes, etc. I’d be interested to know others opinions, but mine is that you can be well treated with a good endo + a good PCP who may be clueless ( to some degree or other) re Type 1. I’m just guessing here, but I think that it would also be against protocol for a PCP to be seen managing Type 1 if the patient has an endo. I’m guessing that both providers take care not to be seen interfering or treating beyond
their scope.
The message from his old practice’s portal says he was leaving medicine for a different career, but the practice itself (BIDMC HCA) is worth considering as they are reasonably T1-savvy and Joslin-connected, as I a said. Sorry if I wasn’t clear 
My former PCP, Dr. Jonathan Kolodny, is also an endo, and IMHO he’s a terrific doctor. I moved to Connecticut a couple of years ago, and was hoping to continue seeing him as my endo, but when he changed practices, they wouldn’t let him see me as “just an endo”.
He is, as far as I know, still taking new patients as a PCP. He’s at Beth Israel Lahey. The Medford office phone is 508-359-1519, and the Dedham office is 781-329-7311.
I was with him for almost 30 years. He’s got a great, dry sense of humor, and he listens to his patients. Can’t recommend him highly enough!
Thank you, Ruth! Dedham would be so convenient.
No worries, Dr. BB. I did speak with quite a patient and concerned receptionist at that phone number so I can try again.
Thanks.
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Ah yes, very familiar. In my case it was the Great Wall of YDFLNCA, “You’re Doing Fine Let’s Not Change Anything” (see YDFLNCA in the list of acronyms pinned at the top of the forum page). There’s a whole lot about T1 that makes your ordinary GP uncomfortable or actively goes against the grain of their training. “Here’s this really powerful substance you need to inject yourself with in varying amounts multiple times a day according to some unique formula specific to you which you’ll have to figure out cuz I can’t do it for you, but try not to screw it up or you’ll wake up in the ER.” Best ones are aware of their own limits in this regard and are ok with it. GP means General Practitioner after all. But there’s also the Doctor Knows All thing that can get pretty deeply imprinted on 'em, and those things can be pretty deeply in conflict. Best ones are perfectly happy with “Let’s leave that to your Endo, just keep me informed of anything I need to know.” But it can be hard to know until you’re actually in the examination room which type you’re dealing with.
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Sue…if it works out and you get an appointment with him, tell him Ruth Rosenfield referred you, and that I miss him.
Hi, Ruth,
He is reducing hours and will not take another patient. I am going to meet with one of his younger women colleagues. I did mention to the receptionist (after being on hold for 25 minutes) that I was referred by a patient who was very happy with his care.
Thanks,
Susan
Well, glad you got an appointment, sorry it’s not with him.
Good luck.
Ruth
I should have mentioned before, but after Dr Weiss I had another terrific PCP who was also very T1 savvy and perfectly content leaving endo stuff to my endo:
Adam Licurse
BWH South Huntington Primary Care
301 South Huntington Ave
Jamaica Plain MA 02130
Thanks very much, Dr. BB.