Glenn Cooney is one of the reasons I wish Yelp had more, and more in-depth coverage of health care…read moreproviders. I don't trust those antiseptic, too-general search engines where someone's name pops up, likely because the engine hopes to gain the doctor's favor or business eventually. Yelp is a similar biz model, true - but more up front, and driven by user content. Yelp, in short, COULD be a real god-send, if used more by patients. Ok, end of rant on that subject...
Onto Dr. Cooney: Today I signed up as his patient. Why? Because I wanted an actual physician to listen to, coordinate, and expertly advise me on all aspects of my care - however simple that care is at present because, thankfully, I'm a healthy person.
I was tired of being Patient X-51599 in Dr. Bigshot's practice. Because in my 2.5 years with Dr. Bigshot, I never actually got to speak with her once, not once, about my care. Just her receptionist, nurse and part-time fill-in MD. The care didn't "hang together," you know? I was bits of a chart, filling up a manila folder. Not a person whose history and tendencies of health and illness were known.
I had remembered Dr. Cooney's care of my seriously complicated granny a few years back. We'd lost all faith in regular MDs dealing with her (don't ask - she was a jumble of disease and dementia). The old family GP we'd had was so fatigued with her, he missed some of the treatment she needed. Heck, treatment WE needed, in order to cope with her appropriately. In my fatigue and anger, I had asked some nurses at the local University hospital - If this woman were YOUR crazy Granny and not mine... whom would you trust to really give a damn about her?
The answer was loud and clear: Glenn Cooney. The man's a saint, and takes his time. Good physician, and treats medicine as a calling.
Indeed he did. He didn't just deal with Gran, but with "mom," with a bunch of family stuff, and with Granny's eventual placement into care.
Fast forward to me, healthy person, suffering sinus infection and life stress and thinking "Oh god, not again... that awful busy practice and god knows who I'll see and I'll have to explain myself all over again." I was talking myself OUT of care just to avoid the B.S. of a train-station experience.
"That's it," says I to self. "I'm finding Glenn Cooney. I want a real doctor. I want someone willing to KNOW ME."
I totally swear, I'm not a narcissist. I don't need to be loved and adored by my doctors. But I want to be known, really known, by my primary care physician.
I spent probaby 90 minutes with Dr. Cooney today, in his new practice. He's chosen to go "boutique." This means he asks patients to sign a contract for care that involves some up front costs. Please - do NOT be afraid. Consider this lovely, philosophical, politically-minded, passionate man for your doctor. If you have concerns about cost, discuss them with him and his nurse. They will treat you with the greatest respect.
Warning - if it's anonymous medicine you want, you'll be shocked. Dr. Cooney will want to know you (within limits of course - he's not a nut). He'll want to care for you. And he may ask you for some commitment in return. It's the wave of the future for "high touch" physicians, and I'm happy to be part of it.
I left feeling like I'd just put a very powerful guy onto "my team" in life. We all need those. If we're lucky we marry them, or work for them, of befriend them. Having one for your personal doctor can change your life.
I'll rest easier tonight. Sure - my two medications for the sinus infection will help. But it's his phone number in my cell phone - and the knowledge that he's out there, and he actually wants to hear from me... wants to care... wow. Priceless.
C. Glenn Cooney has a super-convenient office next door to Mt. Zion hospital at Geary and Divisadero. There's valet parking downstairs. And as he's building his "new" practice, I'm sure he'd love to hear from you.
