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Doctors in Chicago?
Does anyone know who the best doctor in Chicago is for hep c or the best place to go? Am I better off at UIC or Northwestern.......or somewhere altogether different? The appointment I have currently, is at Northwestern University (I believe the cancer research center,) with Dr. Steven Flamm.??????
Thank you so much.....What a wonderful idea jmjm....I think I WILL meet with Dr. Flamm on the 16th AND set up something with Dr. Jensen as well! Sounds like Jensen is liked :)
thanks for the info everyone.
Jessica
thanks for the info everyone.
Jessica
My hepatologist in the suburbs recommended the clinical trials at Northwestern. I have nothing to base a comparison on with UIC however. They are both reputable. Good luck!
I see Dr. Jensen at the University of Chicago. I was in a trial last year and am clear now.
I think you would probably be fine with either University of Chicago or Northwestern but I'm partial to Dr. Jensen at the University of Chicago :-)
Previously I saw a hepatologist in the suburbs...he happens to be at Northwestern now. I didn't clear the first time I treated and decided I wanted to get into a trial....specifically the Vertex trial. I did a lot of research on where to go in Chicago and as luck would have it, the Univ. of Chicago is where the Vertex trials have been. I had heard about Dr. Jensen from a nurse I know who has hepatitis C. I had also seen him a couple times in Chicago Magazines yearly "Top Docs" issues. (He was actually on the cover of their last "Top Docs"issue.) Dr. Jensen has a great CV and I knew the first time I saw him with my page of questions that I was in the right place. My trial nurse, Katie, at the Univ. of Chicago was WONDERFUL. She now happens to be at Northwestern now, working and persuing her doctorate.....
Like I said, both places are good. If you're interested in a PI trial, Univ. of Chicago is where to go if you're interested in Vertex and Northwestern is where you want to go if your interested in Schering.
Denise
I think you would probably be fine with either University of Chicago or Northwestern but I'm partial to Dr. Jensen at the University of Chicago :-)
Previously I saw a hepatologist in the suburbs...he happens to be at Northwestern now. I didn't clear the first time I treated and decided I wanted to get into a trial....specifically the Vertex trial. I did a lot of research on where to go in Chicago and as luck would have it, the Univ. of Chicago is where the Vertex trials have been. I had heard about Dr. Jensen from a nurse I know who has hepatitis C. I had also seen him a couple times in Chicago Magazines yearly "Top Docs" issues. (He was actually on the cover of their last "Top Docs"issue.) Dr. Jensen has a great CV and I knew the first time I saw him with my page of questions that I was in the right place. My trial nurse, Katie, at the Univ. of Chicago was WONDERFUL. She now happens to be at Northwestern now, working and persuing her doctorate.....
Like I said, both places are good. If you're interested in a PI trial, Univ. of Chicago is where to go if you're interested in Vertex and Northwestern is where you want to go if your interested in Schering.
Denise
The name "Steven Flamm" sort of rings a bell, and maybe some here have more personal knowledge and have treated with him. A quick search shows he's a liver specialist (hepatologist) which is who you want to be evaluated by, as opposed to a gastroenterologist.
Another doctor in your area and one of the best in the country is Dr. Donald Jensen: By all accounts he's excellent and some of his videos and writing can be seen on the Clinical Care Options web site.
http://www.uchospitals.edu/physicians/donald-jensen.html
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If you have the time and resources, you might want to interview both and see how you click. The interview/selection can be difficult, however, unless you have enough knowledge to know what questions to ask. I'll try and list a few in a minute, and feel free to post their responses here so the group can thrash them around :)
But if you only have time to see one, I'd go with Jensen, but only because I'm more familiar with him.
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Questions to ask, assuming you are positive for the virus but have not tested further.
1. What tests or procedures will you run to decide if I should treat or not? Do you recommend a biopsy?
2. Do you recommend treatment to all patients or do you recommend patients with mild or moderate liver damage to wait for the newer drugs?
3. Are you testing and of the newer drugs in trial and do you think I would be a candidate?
4. Will you be the doctor in charge of my case, or will I be assigned to someone else?
5. What will be the frequency of office visits and what per cent of the visits will I see you as opposed to a nurse or PA?
6. Is there a mechanism in place so I can reach you between visits, such as by phone or email?
7. Assuming I'm a genotype 1 and decide to treat, what week will you do the first viral load test and how frequently will you test viral load throughout treatment.
8. Are you aggressive with rescue drugs such as Procrit and Neupogen as opposed to reducing the dose of the treatment drugs?
9. At what level of hemoglobin do you administer Procrit or is it based on symptons?
10. At what level of ANC do you administer Neupogen?
Another doctor in your area and one of the best in the country is Dr. Donald Jensen: By all accounts he's excellent and some of his videos and writing can be seen on the Clinical Care Options web site.
http://www.uchospitals.edu/physicians/donald-jensen.html
--------
If you have the time and resources, you might want to interview both and see how you click. The interview/selection can be difficult, however, unless you have enough knowledge to know what questions to ask. I'll try and list a few in a minute, and feel free to post their responses here so the group can thrash them around :)
But if you only have time to see one, I'd go with Jensen, but only because I'm more familiar with him.
----------
Questions to ask, assuming you are positive for the virus but have not tested further.
1. What tests or procedures will you run to decide if I should treat or not? Do you recommend a biopsy?
2. Do you recommend treatment to all patients or do you recommend patients with mild or moderate liver damage to wait for the newer drugs?
3. Are you testing and of the newer drugs in trial and do you think I would be a candidate?
4. Will you be the doctor in charge of my case, or will I be assigned to someone else?
5. What will be the frequency of office visits and what per cent of the visits will I see you as opposed to a nurse or PA?
6. Is there a mechanism in place so I can reach you between visits, such as by phone or email?
7. Assuming I'm a genotype 1 and decide to treat, what week will you do the first viral load test and how frequently will you test viral load throughout treatment.
8. Are you aggressive with rescue drugs such as Procrit and Neupogen as opposed to reducing the dose of the treatment drugs?
9. At what level of hemoglobin do you administer Procrit or is it based on symptons?
10. At what level of ANC do you administer Neupogen?
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