OB-GYN versus General Practitioner

Do you see your gynecologist for more than just women issues? It seems more and more people are treating their OB-GYN as a general practitioner. I think I even got the option to make my OB my primary care physician.

FROM NBC:Whether it's for a check up, a mammogram or prescription refills, most women see their OB-GYNs once a year. But more and more patients are turning to OB-GYN's for general medical advice and the economy may be to blame. Lindsay Wilcox reports.

At just 22 years old, Jamie Moore is a healthy young woman. But she's seen her OB-GYN five or six times just this year for a range of healthcare issues. (SOT: Jamie Moore, Patient) "A stomach ache or heart racing, or just colds or headaches, things of that sort." Dr. Roderick Diggs says because OB-GYNs see their patients regularly - they develop a long term relationship. (SOT: Dr. Roderick P. Diggs III, OB-GYN) "And over time that relationship becomes closer, so we become someone that they trust and so they'll come to us."

Dr. Diggs says this is a trend he's seen for several years, but with these tough economic times, he's says more patients are turning to him, so they're not faced with two separate copays." (SOT: Dr. Roderick P. Diggs III, OB-GYN) "If it's simple, it's fine. However, if it's something that is a little more complicated or something that's going to be a long term issue, like blood pressure issues, cholesterol issues, then I encourage them to go see a PCP." Jamie says she really has a greater comfort level with Dr. Diggs than with any other doctor. (SOT: Jamie Moore, Patient) "The relationship that you form as a woman first is with your OB-GYN." And she plans to continue looking to him - for all her basic healthcare needs.

-NewsAnchorMomJen

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