At one time, a visit to your doctor (now called a primary care physician) led to an exam, some discussion, and any recommendations they felt was required. It was a one-on-one experience, which, in my opinion, was necessary for the best in healthcare.
Today, you're more than likely to visit with a nurse practitioner. Many are more than competent, and can offer excellent advise. There is a problem: they may not have any responsibility for the office they use, and if they leave, your prescriptions may require trying to contact the office for refills. That, and you may find no efforts were made to have your healthcare placed into the care of another nurse practitioner. Otherwise, you fall through the cracks, and the doctor that supervises their practice may not even know you exist.
I've had two nurse practitioners leave the clinic where my doctor practices over the last 8 years. Both left without passing on my information to another practitioner, and during the pandemic, one prescribed antibiotics for Bell's Palsy instead of an antiviral medication that is required. That, and that last visit with the last one that left was a teleconference, since actually visiting the doctor was too far into the future.
With the current push to inject a dangerous medication for a virus that is only dangerous to a small percentage of people there is more of a danger when going to the doctor. Where in the past risks were not taken lightly, today medical professionals blindly follow procedures created by those that really don't care about your health. Pharmaceutical companies lie about their medications, bureaucrats create hardships for those that are cautious about procedures, and people suffer from what can only be described as evil or ignorance.
I have no idea where this will all end up, but know being cautious, diligent, and refusing to blindly accept a diagnosis is more than necessary. Treatments can be deadly, and many of the medications prescribed may create more problems than they cure.
