The following has been reposted (with slight modifications) with permission from Kindism.org as part of the joint series on Health Care for Christian Scientists & Former Christian Scientists.

Christian Scientists experiences with doctors varies widely, some have been raised with one non-Christian Scientist parent, so they’ve been vaccinated, been to doctors, dentists, etc., while others have been raised with absolutely no exposure. This is a brief overview of the types of primary doctors that most people are likely to encounter, and meant to be more of a starting-point than a collection of all-encompassing knowledge.

Be upfront with any doctors/medical staff you encounter about your Christian Science past, and lack of medical history. They may look at you like you have two heads, but most medical people are likely to be shocked to hear someone has never been to a doctor.

Once the initial shock wears off, the medical professional SHOULD strongly recommend getting blood work/other routine tests to determine immunities and obtain a baseline (this may also reveal unknown medical problems already in existence). They should also take some time to explain the benefits of vitamin supplements and explain the results of baseline vital signs and what they indicate. If they keep harping on the lack of medical background or speak poorly of your parents, then it is time to shop for a new health care provider!

A few quick things to keep in mind when starting out:

  • Don’t be afraid to ask questions. I try and have a list of questions either on a piece of paper, or tucked away somewhere in the far recesses of my brain before appointments.
  • Keep track of paperwork.
  • Start keeping a record of your medical history (there will be post about this later).

Remember, the most important thing to remember is that a the medical professionals are working FOR YOU. Especially in the primary care physician realm, you are paying them to be your medical resource, therefore you should feel comfortable (and they should encourage you) calling and asking questions.

If you find that you have a LOT of basic questions, you might want to ask your provider (or their nurse) for book or web site suggestions. This way you’ll have credible information that they feel comfortable with.

A note about “alternative” health care: If you have a good Primary Care Physician that you are comfortable with you should begin by you should begin by talking to them about the types of not-quite-medical care you are considering. Be clear about what symptoms you are hoping this method would treat, and any other reasons you might be thinking about trying it.

If they say that ALL alternatives are BS then you may want to consider looking elsewhere for a PCP. There are NO absolutes in ANYTHING scientific, if your provider snubs their nose at everything then that brings into question their scientific integrity and willingness to evaluate the whole patient instead of just a single symptom.

Try and find a doctor BEFORE an emergency arises. It is much easier to get to know someone without the fear of an unknown ailment looming over you!

Primary Care Physicians (PCP)/General Practitioner

A primary care provider (PCP) is a health care practitioner who sees people that have common medical problems. This person is usually a doctor, but may be a physician assistant or a nurse practitioner. Your PCP is often involved in your care for a long time, so it is important to select someone with whom you will work well. (via MedlinePlus).

  • If you’re going to try and navigate the world of medicine beyond Christian Science, you should have a primary care physician/general practitioner 
  • How to choose one: MedlinePlus, University of Maryland Medical Center, CareCounsel.com all have tips on how to pick one. It comes down to who meets your needs, who you are comfortable with, who your insurance will cover (if you have insurance, I’m not going to try to explain health insurance). There are also usually online ratings and reviews by patients, I wouldn’t use this as a primary source, but it is good to see what else is out there. You can also ask friends for recommendations.
  • There are often multiple providers working in a single practice so perhaps it is worth dealing with more than one before going completely somewhere different.
  • How often to visit: probably yearly for an annual physical exam (although there is some debate about that, via WebMD), more often if you are feeling sick or even vaguely unwell.
  • A PCP office should ALWAYS has someone on call for after hours things, if your PCP doesn’t then it is ABSOLUTELY time to find a different one. Also, if you have health insurance they will also have a 24-hour hot-line you can call. Most of the time if you are calling after hours the advice will be to go to Emergency room (ER) or urgent care (more on urgent care & the ER below).
  • Many offices will have drop-in hours where they will see people without an appointment – often first thing in the morning.
Dentist

Of all the doctors on the list I have had by far the most experience with dentists. I’ve had five or six dentists in my time, as well as an endodontist, and an orthodontist. Make sure you find a dentist you like, also make sure you like their hygienists/staff.

Optometrist (aka Eye Doctor)

Most states require a vision test to get a drivers license (at least the one’s I’ve lived in), and being able to see things clearly (not just in the Spiritual/Metaphysical sense) is always a good idea!

Pediatricians

A pediatrician is a primary care doctor for kids. They can be an invaluable resource for child-related questions. We picked ours because he was on duty the night Kid1 was born and he made us feel comfortable under very trying circumstances. Many OBGYN offices have a list of pediatricians, or ask around from other friends with children.

Gynecologists/Obstetricians (OBGYNs)

For many women, their gynecologist/nurse practitioner is the only doctor they see regularly for well-woman exams (which can also be done by primary care physicians). You really should have a primary care physician, and then if you have any gynecological issues or get pregnant, they can refer you.

Emergency Room:

The American College of Emergency Physicians has a comprehensive list for when you should go to the ER:

  • Difficulty breathing
  • Shortness of breath
  • Chest or upper abdominal pain or pressure
  • Fainting, sudden dizziness, weakness
  • Changes in vision
  • Confusion or changes in mental status
  • Any sudden or severe pain
  • Uncontrolled bleeding
  • Severe or persistent vomiting or diarrhea
  • Coughing or vomiting blood
  • Suicidal feelings
  • Difficulty speaking
  • Shortness of breath
  • Unusual or severe abdominal pain

If you’re unsure, most ERs will let you call ahead to make sure it is actually an “emergency” or you can call your PCP’s office first. We’ve gone for thumb amputations (I grazed the tip of my thumb with a chefs knife and there was blood everywhere), a sprained elbow, a nasty face-plant into the TV table, and pain that would not go away after days and days and days of waiting to “know the truth” about it not being real.

If you can’t get a hold of your PCP,  ask a medical professional.

Calling 911 is often the best and safest way to get to the ER in case of emergency. 911 isn’t there to chat about a sprained ankle, but IS appropriate if someone is having chest pains, or bleeding profusely or seems completely disoriented. When you call 911, the EMTs begin to treat you immediately by stabilizing your condition.

Urgent Care Clinics/Centers:

Urgent Care Centers are normally free standing buildings (not connected to a hospital) that are an alternative to the Emergency Room at a hospital. Some are open 24 hours, others maybe open 12 hours. They basically offer medical attention on a walk-in basis, no appointment needed. They’re known for short waiting times, and can help you with everything from flu symptoms, broken bones, stitches for bad cuts, and sometimes offer X-rays. Some insurance plans offer easier access to the urgent care centers than the emergency room at a hospital, in other words, you may pay less money at the urgent care center. There are registered nurses on staff and a doctor is there to write prescriptions (via WikiAnwers).

Urgent care is often used as a weekend alternative to the doctor’s office too.

For example, all of a sudden I had painful urinary symptoms. Not so dramatic as needing an ER visit, but since it was Saturday afternoon I couldn’t visit the doctor’s office. So I went to Urgent Care instead. I’ve also been to Urgent Care when the doctor’s office couldn’t fit me in until 4:30pm and it was 8:30am. I was able to be seen by a doctor within an hour and start taking the medication I needed without having to suffer all day. – Barbara

Please remember, this is intended to offer people support, ideas, and resources. It is not in any way intended to be a substitute for medical advice or care. Please see a health care professional if you have concerns, especially if your concern is serious!