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Developing a Doctor-Patient Relationship

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By WEEK Producer

Story Published: Oct 26, 2009 at 6:38 PM CDT

Story Updated: Oct 26, 2009 at 9:41 PM CDT

Panelists at a Peoria healthcare forum Monday claimed doctors are under increasing pressure to see more patients in less time and they say that's hurting the doctor–patient relationship.

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Democratic State Representative Jehan Gordon hosted the forum at Peoria's Neighborhood House. That's where the executive director of the Alliance for Patient Access called for a national health insurance code of conduct.

"They're trying to watch their bottom line and they're saying that the cost of giving the therapies and drugs that the doctors prescribe is too high for the insurance companies. So, they're putting people onto other therapies without the doctors often times knowing, which can result in some very dangerous conditions," said Brian Kennedy with Alliance for Patient Access.

Beyond pointing a finger of blame at insurance companies, the forum offered advice about questions to ask your doctor like when is it ok to use a generic prescription and how good are different tests at diagnosing the problem.

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