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| - TL;DR version:
Had my first visit last week. It was everything I dreamed it would be and more! I have a TEAM (health and wellness coaches AND a doctor) of people to provide me with excellent care. This is really how healthcare should be. I'm not limited to one issue per visit like I was with other doctors. They care about keeping me well and guiding me towards a healthier life. I've never had this level of care before; I feel so spoiled!
Full version:
My first visit was everything I was dreaming it would be. And more. I never would have guessed I would enjoy spending two hours at the doctor. (I spent three hours at the doctor once; 80% of that time was waiting, in the waiting room and in the exam room.) I was ridiculously relieved not to be confronted with a scale and a too-small blood pressure cuff first thing. Instead, I talked with my team for two hours, never feeling rushed or like I was bothering them by staying too long.
I mentioned "team." That's what I love about this place. With my membership (FREE with my Nevada Health Co-op insurance plan) at Turntable, I get a team of individuals to care for me. It's a wonderful and integrative approach that just makes so much sense to me. I get a health coach, who can help me make and work towards some health and fitness goals; a primary care doctor, who wants to treat me as a whole person, not just symptoms; and a wellness coach, who's experience in the mental health field. And they all work together so that all four of us are on the same page and doing what's best for me. What I hated about previous GPs I've had was that I felt like I was only allowed to mention one, maybe two, issues I was having at a time -- they'd never have time for more than that. And I felt like it was only necessary to go in when I was sick or needed a prescription for something. It was a chore, and I never felt like the doctors really cared about me that much. It feels nothing like that at Turntable!
I got to meet my team in a somewhat rotating fashion, which was great because I didn't feel overwhelmed or intimidated having to meet everyone at once. They all made me feel comfortable and welcome, and they kept saying how glad they were to have me there. How nice is that? To feel like you're not just a number? To not be shuffled through a procedural visit? Honestly, I felt so important, getting a whole team to care about me! I didn't feel rushed at all, and I feel like they all really, truly listened to and understood my goals and how *I* needed to achieve them. I'm excited about my health now, which is just what I was expecting and hoping of Turntable Health.
They've got some health, wellness, and exercise classes that I can attend free as part of my membership. However, the times aren't always convenient to my work schedule. Bummer. But they did say they're still trying to find the best times for classes, and they're working on slowly expanding the offerings.
It's so great to have a doctor who has the time to listen to more than one issue at a time, who considers me and my health as a whole (including my mental health!), who's personable and caring, and who's excited about motivating me. I almost feel a little guilty and greedy... I've never had this level of care, so that's going to take some getting used to.
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