I'm so mad right now
- Thread starter divagirl
- Start date
Miss Lee
Cathlete
Oh Boy -- here we go -- LMAO!!
I hate to be kept waiting, too, but I don't have a problem so long as my doctor doesn't try to herd me through. If she gives me a thorough exam and allows me the time I need to ask questions, then I don't have an issue with waiting. I would be very upset though, if I felt I was given short shrift.
The receptionist where I go is usually pretty good about telling me if the doctor is running behind and will apologize, too, but hey, stuff happens. They DO get emergency calls, and most of the overbooking is done because they can't fit everybody in who wants/needs an appointment. There's a shortage of doctors and they're spread pretty thin -- and they aren't making barrels of money, either -- that's pure fallacy.
I completely understand why a psychiatrist wouldn't refill a prescription without seeing you.
I hate to be kept waiting, too, but I don't have a problem so long as my doctor doesn't try to herd me through. If she gives me a thorough exam and allows me the time I need to ask questions, then I don't have an issue with waiting. I would be very upset though, if I felt I was given short shrift.
The receptionist where I go is usually pretty good about telling me if the doctor is running behind and will apologize, too, but hey, stuff happens. They DO get emergency calls, and most of the overbooking is done because they can't fit everybody in who wants/needs an appointment. There's a shortage of doctors and they're spread pretty thin -- and they aren't making barrels of money, either -- that's pure fallacy.
I completely understand why a psychiatrist wouldn't refill a prescription without seeing you.
I work for a doctor's office with doctors who work their tails off to try to get everyone seen. They are good at explaining things to their patients, which at times can cause them to get a little behind, and they do try to squeeze emergency patients in between as well. Other things that can put them behind schedule is the patient who hasnt been seen for a few months that comes in for a "sore throat" and then does the old "while I"m here I had a few more questions" and the appt ends up being much longer than anticipated. My docs try to touch briefly on the major questions but will often make the patient reschedule to discuss the other more chronic problems in more detail when more time can be allotted. So for that patient, he or she may feel like they're gettting the big blow off and be mad that another copay has to be paid later, but for the patient who is next in line to be seen, they appreciate the doc not tacking on another 30 minutes to their wait time. Oftentimes it's not always the doc who is running behind it's the patients. I've seen many days where my docs are standing around twiddling their thumbs b/c their patients are late so say a 10am appt is 15 min late, the 10:10 patient is a few minutes late and lo and behold the 10:30 patient is 15 min early, so now the dilemma is you suddenly have 3 patients there literally at the same time and there's just no way to see 3 patients at once.
Concerning phone calls, it's not possible on a busy office day to answer all phone calls and see all the patients that need to be seen. My docs have a phone triage and important calls they answer in btwn patients, others wait til the end of the day and still others til the next day. I think the docs I work for easiy speak to 25-30 patients a day per doc and it's usually while they're standing up on their lunch hour trying to grab a bite to eat before the afternoon rush of patients come in.
As far as meds go, I've seen my docs get "reminder letters" from "medical advisory committees" that monitor prescription meds especially those with "black box" warnings. Letters like, "we notice it's been 6 months since you've see Mr Jones. He is on Zoloft and I'm sure you're aware of the close monitoring needed to assess suicidal ideations etc etc" So yes, docs do need to see certain patients more than others to cover their butts, but it is good medicine to do so as well.
Dont get me wrong I'm not saying the medical world is not without its flaws, I'm just fortunate enough to work for a great group of docs who do miss out on famlily functions and put in ALOT of hours and are truly caring people who are trying to do the best they can. Can you telll I love where I work???? lol Ok, off my soap box now
Concerning phone calls, it's not possible on a busy office day to answer all phone calls and see all the patients that need to be seen. My docs have a phone triage and important calls they answer in btwn patients, others wait til the end of the day and still others til the next day. I think the docs I work for easiy speak to 25-30 patients a day per doc and it's usually while they're standing up on their lunch hour trying to grab a bite to eat before the afternoon rush of patients come in.
As far as meds go, I've seen my docs get "reminder letters" from "medical advisory committees" that monitor prescription meds especially those with "black box" warnings. Letters like, "we notice it's been 6 months since you've see Mr Jones. He is on Zoloft and I'm sure you're aware of the close monitoring needed to assess suicidal ideations etc etc" So yes, docs do need to see certain patients more than others to cover their butts, but it is good medicine to do so as well.
Dont get me wrong I'm not saying the medical world is not without its flaws, I'm just fortunate enough to work for a great group of docs who do miss out on famlily functions and put in ALOT of hours and are truly caring people who are trying to do the best they can. Can you telll I love where I work???? lol Ok, off my soap box now
M
moni_stout
Guest
I had a very bad experience that finally got me to switch doctors. I was very sick and left work early to go home and rest. I called the doctor's office and they said she wanted me to come in and could fit me in at 1pm. I usually would sit in her waiting room for 90 minutes to two hours waiting. This time I was so surprised that they got me into the exam room in under 30 minutes! Well I ended up sitting in the exam room for about 1hr 45 minutes! I was feeling so horrible. No one ever stopped in to let me know when she was coming or to apologize. I know that I should have gone out and asked someone but I tend to shy away from being speaking out. When the doctor finally came in and asked me about my symptoms and how I was feeling I just broke down in tears. I was just so angry about my wait and feeling so horrible that I didn't know what to say and just cried. She then asked me if I was pregnant or something because I was being emotional! That was the last time she ever saw me in her office.
My grandfather also had to fire her as his doctor. He kept telling her about different symptoms he was having including loss of vision. She kept telling him it was nothing and to take different vitamins. He was feeling really bad and didn't have time for a two hour wait one day -- ended up in the hospital with open heart surgery. He needed two splints (not sure if that is the word). Apparantly all of the symptoms he was telling her about should have been good clues as to his heart problem.
My new doctor will normally call in a refill for me if I have an appointment scheduled.
Monica
My grandfather also had to fire her as his doctor. He kept telling her about different symptoms he was having including loss of vision. She kept telling him it was nothing and to take different vitamins. He was feeling really bad and didn't have time for a two hour wait one day -- ended up in the hospital with open heart surgery. He needed two splints (not sure if that is the word). Apparantly all of the symptoms he was telling her about should have been good clues as to his heart problem.
My new doctor will normally call in a refill for me if I have an appointment scheduled.
Monica
Miss Lee
Cathlete
>I work for a doctor's office with doctors who work their
>tails off to try to get everyone seen. They are good at
>explaining things to their patients, which at times can cause
>them to get a little behind, and they do try to squeeze
>emergency patients in between as well. Other things that can
>put them behind schedule is the patient who hasnt been seen
>for a few months that comes in for a "sore throat" and then
>does the old "while I"m here I had a few more questions" and
>the appt ends up being much longer than anticipated. My docs
>try to touch briefly on the major questions but will often
>make the patient reschedule to discuss the other more chronic
>problems in more detail when more time can be allotted. So
>for that patient, he or she may feel like they're gettting the
>big blow off and be mad that another copay has to be paid
>later, but for the patient who is next in line to be seen,
>they appreciate the doc not tacking on another 30 minutes to
>their wait time. Oftentimes it's not always the doc who is
>running behind it's the patients. I've seen many days where
>my docs are standing around twiddling their thumbs b/c their
>patients are late so say a 10am appt is 15 min late, the 10:10
>patient is a few minutes late and lo and behold the 10:30
>patient is 15 min early, so now the dilemma is you suddenly
>have 3 patients there literally at the same time and there's
>just no way to see 3 patients at once.
>
>Concerning phone calls, it's not possible on a busy office day
>to answer all phone calls and see all the patients that need
>to be seen. My docs have a phone triage and important calls
>they answer in btwn patients, others wait til the end of the
>day and still others til the next day. I think the docs I
>work for easiy speak to 25-30 patients a day per doc and it's
>usually while they're standing up on their lunch hour trying
>to grab a bite to eat before the afternoon rush of patients
>come in.
>
>As far as meds go, I've seen my docs get "reminder letters"
>from "medical advisory committees" that monitor prescription
>meds especially those with "black box" warnings. Letters
>like, "we notice it's been 6 months since you've see Mr Jones.
> He is on Zoloft and I'm sure you're aware of the close
>monitoring needed to assess suicidal ideations etc etc" So
>yes, docs do need to see certain patients more than others to
>cover their butts, but it is good medicine to do so as well.
>
>Dont get me wrong I'm not saying the medical world is not
>without its flaws, I'm just fortunate enough to work for a
>great group of docs who do miss out on famlily functions and
>put in ALOT of hours and are truly caring people who are
>trying to do the best they can. Can you telll I love where I
>work???? lol Ok, off my soap box now
Well said, Stacy
>tails off to try to get everyone seen. They are good at
>explaining things to their patients, which at times can cause
>them to get a little behind, and they do try to squeeze
>emergency patients in between as well. Other things that can
>put them behind schedule is the patient who hasnt been seen
>for a few months that comes in for a "sore throat" and then
>does the old "while I"m here I had a few more questions" and
>the appt ends up being much longer than anticipated. My docs
>try to touch briefly on the major questions but will often
>make the patient reschedule to discuss the other more chronic
>problems in more detail when more time can be allotted. So
>for that patient, he or she may feel like they're gettting the
>big blow off and be mad that another copay has to be paid
>later, but for the patient who is next in line to be seen,
>they appreciate the doc not tacking on another 30 minutes to
>their wait time. Oftentimes it's not always the doc who is
>running behind it's the patients. I've seen many days where
>my docs are standing around twiddling their thumbs b/c their
>patients are late so say a 10am appt is 15 min late, the 10:10
>patient is a few minutes late and lo and behold the 10:30
>patient is 15 min early, so now the dilemma is you suddenly
>have 3 patients there literally at the same time and there's
>just no way to see 3 patients at once.
>
>Concerning phone calls, it's not possible on a busy office day
>to answer all phone calls and see all the patients that need
>to be seen. My docs have a phone triage and important calls
>they answer in btwn patients, others wait til the end of the
>day and still others til the next day. I think the docs I
>work for easiy speak to 25-30 patients a day per doc and it's
>usually while they're standing up on their lunch hour trying
>to grab a bite to eat before the afternoon rush of patients
>come in.
>
>As far as meds go, I've seen my docs get "reminder letters"
>from "medical advisory committees" that monitor prescription
>meds especially those with "black box" warnings. Letters
>like, "we notice it's been 6 months since you've see Mr Jones.
> He is on Zoloft and I'm sure you're aware of the close
>monitoring needed to assess suicidal ideations etc etc" So
>yes, docs do need to see certain patients more than others to
>cover their butts, but it is good medicine to do so as well.
>
>Dont get me wrong I'm not saying the medical world is not
>without its flaws, I'm just fortunate enough to work for a
>great group of docs who do miss out on famlily functions and
>put in ALOT of hours and are truly caring people who are
>trying to do the best they can. Can you telll I love where I
>work???? lol Ok, off my soap box now
Well said, Stacy
Wow. I find it really sad that some folks aren't willing to give their doctors the benefit of the doubt. Why do you automatically assume they are being disrespectfull if they see you late for an appointment? Have you ever asked why they were late? I do sometimes ask if my doctor is running late (she usually apologizes). Of course, she never gives away confidential information, but there is always a good reason. If there are emergencies, of course she needs to see that person first.
I'm not sure what people think the answer is to this type of dilema. Would you rather see a doctor who was always on time because he/she wouldn't see patients who were acutely ill? That means if you got sick, you would have to go to the ER and wait for hours! Or if you get worked in, do you think it's not fair for you to wait while your doctor is seeing her regularly scheduled appointments? I am sure doctors are always trying to balence these problems.
I'm not sure what people think the answer is to this type of dilema. Would you rather see a doctor who was always on time because he/she wouldn't see patients who were acutely ill? That means if you got sick, you would have to go to the ER and wait for hours! Or if you get worked in, do you think it's not fair for you to wait while your doctor is seeing her regularly scheduled appointments? I am sure doctors are always trying to balence these problems.
pippa
Cathlete
>>
>but I think it is all a bunch of BS to make $$$$....Sorry, but
>I do. If you are relatively healthy why come in? It is crazy.
>And it isn't like if you see your doc regularly they make
>exceptions. It has been my experience that if more than a
>month has gone by you are coming in to the office! That is
>especially true with psychs....medication management....if I
>am doing OK and not going crazy, why do I have to see you
>EVERY MONTH no matter what? And two weeks later you see the
>EOB and they got to bill 80.00 for that 10 minute session of
>nothing. I am in the wrong field!
Chronic conditions often need to be monitored. Just because you think you are 'fine' doesn't mean that you don't need to see the doctor. Case in point, I suffer from asthma. I had my annual appointment in January. I thought I was 'fine.' I got there, took my breathing test and my lung capacity was way below normal. So..not fine. Another case, I was on a medication that is known to cause certain other problems so my doc wanted to see me every month to make sure these other problems didn't crop up. Not every doctor did this, but I respect mine for doing the right thing here and working to prevent any problems before they start. I don't think she was doing it for the money.
>
>That is totally how I felt for my follow up from my MC. I
>suffered sitting in the OB waiting room (for over an hour BTW,
>waiting..waiting..) looking at all the pregnant women, had to
>pay a $40.00 "specialist" copay and all the doc said was what
>I already knew from reading the internet. The medical
>assistant asked me how I was feeling. That's it! It was so
>stupid! I was so angry.
Your follow-up appointment didn't include an exam? As I posted to you on the pregnancy board, I've had 3 m/c and 1 second trimester fetal death and my follow-ups have always included a physical exam. I agree that they don't have much information to tell you(although usually with d&c they've done testing of the tissue--so there is that to discuss)but I still feel better having a doctor exam me to make sure I am healing properly.
>
>To top it off.......normally pregnancy is a package rate deal
>under insurances. You pay one co-pay but not again throughout
>your pregnancy. Well, I was pregnant all of 12 weeks and saw
>the doc about 3 times. WELL...I got the UPDATED bill today,
>billing me for $40.00 x 3 for all 3 visits!!! It is like they
>looked at it and were like, "oh, look she's not pregnant
>anymore, bill her for those copays!" AND..when I had the D&C
>done..which they emphathetically talked me through..."my
>decision" "do what feels right"...blah, blah..well I never
>thought it would be processed as if I had a mole removed and
>now I owe my $500.00 deductible on top of the 20%
>co-insurance!! I am just amazed that that is not treated as an
>ER procedure, especially since it had been 5 weeks and my body
>had not caught on to the fact that I had miscarried! Gimme a
>break....Something as traumatic as pregnancy loss and now I
>owe roughly $1,000 at least before this is said and done! I
>think it would have been cheaper to go to term!!!!
>It just feels like they are kicking you when you are down.
>
>I had the same thing with my fetal death. My doctor explained to me that because I was an OB patient they had been doing the sort of 'package billing. ' However, the insurance company had already been notifed of all my appointments so my doc couldn't just not bill me. I agree it seems hard to take but it really has more to do with the insurance companies and not the doctor. Also, I did see the doctor all of those times so why shouldn't she be paid for her time? BTW, my D & E at 17 weeks was billed as an abortion, which obviously was very hard to take, but also my insurance wasn't going to cover ANY of that. So they changed it, but mine wasn't treated as an ER procedure either and mine was a 'missed' death also.
I guess my point is that a lot of things are the insurance company and not the doctors. Maybe I'm wrong and doctors are just out to make a buck(which I'm sure some are) I just have never really experienced that myself. As i said before, if someone REALLY doesn't think they need to see the doctor, THEY should ask the doctor why he/she feels the need to see you. JMO
>but I think it is all a bunch of BS to make $$$$....Sorry, but
>I do. If you are relatively healthy why come in? It is crazy.
>And it isn't like if you see your doc regularly they make
>exceptions. It has been my experience that if more than a
>month has gone by you are coming in to the office! That is
>especially true with psychs....medication management....if I
>am doing OK and not going crazy, why do I have to see you
>EVERY MONTH no matter what? And two weeks later you see the
>EOB and they got to bill 80.00 for that 10 minute session of
>nothing. I am in the wrong field!
Chronic conditions often need to be monitored. Just because you think you are 'fine' doesn't mean that you don't need to see the doctor. Case in point, I suffer from asthma. I had my annual appointment in January. I thought I was 'fine.' I got there, took my breathing test and my lung capacity was way below normal. So..not fine. Another case, I was on a medication that is known to cause certain other problems so my doc wanted to see me every month to make sure these other problems didn't crop up. Not every doctor did this, but I respect mine for doing the right thing here and working to prevent any problems before they start. I don't think she was doing it for the money.
>
>That is totally how I felt for my follow up from my MC. I
>suffered sitting in the OB waiting room (for over an hour BTW,
>waiting..waiting..) looking at all the pregnant women, had to
>pay a $40.00 "specialist" copay and all the doc said was what
>I already knew from reading the internet. The medical
>assistant asked me how I was feeling. That's it! It was so
>stupid! I was so angry.
Your follow-up appointment didn't include an exam? As I posted to you on the pregnancy board, I've had 3 m/c and 1 second trimester fetal death and my follow-ups have always included a physical exam. I agree that they don't have much information to tell you(although usually with d&c they've done testing of the tissue--so there is that to discuss)but I still feel better having a doctor exam me to make sure I am healing properly.
>
>To top it off.......normally pregnancy is a package rate deal
>under insurances. You pay one co-pay but not again throughout
>your pregnancy. Well, I was pregnant all of 12 weeks and saw
>the doc about 3 times. WELL...I got the UPDATED bill today,
>billing me for $40.00 x 3 for all 3 visits!!! It is like they
>looked at it and were like, "oh, look she's not pregnant
>anymore, bill her for those copays!" AND..when I had the D&C
>done..which they emphathetically talked me through..."my
>decision" "do what feels right"...blah, blah..well I never
>thought it would be processed as if I had a mole removed and
>now I owe my $500.00 deductible on top of the 20%
>co-insurance!! I am just amazed that that is not treated as an
>ER procedure, especially since it had been 5 weeks and my body
>had not caught on to the fact that I had miscarried! Gimme a
>break....Something as traumatic as pregnancy loss and now I
>owe roughly $1,000 at least before this is said and done! I
>think it would have been cheaper to go to term!!!!
>It just feels like they are kicking you when you are down.
>
>I had the same thing with my fetal death. My doctor explained to me that because I was an OB patient they had been doing the sort of 'package billing. ' However, the insurance company had already been notifed of all my appointments so my doc couldn't just not bill me. I agree it seems hard to take but it really has more to do with the insurance companies and not the doctor. Also, I did see the doctor all of those times so why shouldn't she be paid for her time? BTW, my D & E at 17 weeks was billed as an abortion, which obviously was very hard to take, but also my insurance wasn't going to cover ANY of that. So they changed it, but mine wasn't treated as an ER procedure either and mine was a 'missed' death also.
I guess my point is that a lot of things are the insurance company and not the doctors. Maybe I'm wrong and doctors are just out to make a buck(which I'm sure some are) I just have never really experienced that myself. As i said before, if someone REALLY doesn't think they need to see the doctor, THEY should ask the doctor why he/she feels the need to see you. JMO
Ain't that the truth! Insurance companies can be a pain! There was one prescription my doc wrote for that came in 3 strengths, and the patient needed the highest strength (which was 100mg), well the dumb insurance company would only cover the 25 mg strength, so now this patient has to swallow 4 pills every day instead of one! That just makes no sense. And the time spent during the day trying to code each visit so it gets paid for and the patient doesnt get a denial letter is just ridiculous. Another patient had his asthma controller med moved up to the highest copay tier but as a "bonus" the insurance company lowered the price of the rescue medicine. Well the goal of the asthma therapy is so the patient doesnt have to use his/her rescue meds often at all if they have good control with his/her controller meds. But some ppl cant afford the controller meds now, so their asthma is gets worse necessitating closer in-office follow up visits. It's a viscous circle!
pippa
Cathlete
I agree Stacy...the insurance companies are certainly contributing to the problem. Over-booking, etc. can almost be directly correlated to the higher prices doctors need to charge to make a profit. Thirty years ago a doctor used to just make a flat fee for an office visit(say $50) now after insurance they only clear a small percentage of that so they 'have' to over-book to make the same profit. I think a lot of the anger towards doctors is just misplaced.
MCunningham
Cathlete
Boy, is THIS thread timely!
My husband has been suffering with a chronic neck condition for the last 1.5 years (bulging discs in the cervical spine). When he first injured it, he couldn't move his neck, so our general practitioner recommended an MRI right away. He felt that since this was a neck issue, the problem needed to be diagnosed before he could recommend any treatment plan.
Well, our insurance rejected the MRI order, saying that DH had to be in physical therapy for at least 8 continuous weeks before they'd authorize an MRI. Our doctor was flabbergasted... he was really aggravated that they'd recommend doing PT on a neck with an undiagnosed injury, since that could potentially make the problem much worse.
So, to get around this, our GP referred us to a friend of his who is a neurosurgeon, who wrote to the insurance company with a long, detailed justification. They approved the MRI, but good lord... this neurosurgeon is a moron. First of all, the LEAST amount of time we've been in the waiting room waiting to see him is 1 hour, 15 minutes. The LONGEST was just this week, where we waited 2 hours, 25 minutes to see him. THAT is just ridiculous.
Secondly, I've been asking him for behavioral changes that might help DH (i.e. what activities to limit, what stuff he can do on his own, whether to do heat/ice, etc.), and his only suggestion was that we should ditch my Camry and buy a Chevy Tahoe "because it has a better suspension, for less bouncing in the car". I was like... uh... what about the rest of his day? But to date, that has been his only recommendation on what changes we should make to help the chances of his healing.
Thirdly, he's a sexist idiot. He told me "I don't have a problem with my female patients limiting their sports activities, because they're not as competitive as men." He also told me that the best exercise "for a woman" is: "walking, no running, no jumping, no impact, and no weights... because women weren't made to do all that man stuff."
I stare daggers at him every time we have to do a follow-up for my husband!!! x(
I already told DH... we're changing doctors as soon as I can find a neurosurgeon that my OTHER GP (whose opinion I respect a great deal) would recommend.
MC
My husband has been suffering with a chronic neck condition for the last 1.5 years (bulging discs in the cervical spine). When he first injured it, he couldn't move his neck, so our general practitioner recommended an MRI right away. He felt that since this was a neck issue, the problem needed to be diagnosed before he could recommend any treatment plan.
Well, our insurance rejected the MRI order, saying that DH had to be in physical therapy for at least 8 continuous weeks before they'd authorize an MRI. Our doctor was flabbergasted... he was really aggravated that they'd recommend doing PT on a neck with an undiagnosed injury, since that could potentially make the problem much worse.
So, to get around this, our GP referred us to a friend of his who is a neurosurgeon, who wrote to the insurance company with a long, detailed justification. They approved the MRI, but good lord... this neurosurgeon is a moron. First of all, the LEAST amount of time we've been in the waiting room waiting to see him is 1 hour, 15 minutes. The LONGEST was just this week, where we waited 2 hours, 25 minutes to see him. THAT is just ridiculous.
Secondly, I've been asking him for behavioral changes that might help DH (i.e. what activities to limit, what stuff he can do on his own, whether to do heat/ice, etc.), and his only suggestion was that we should ditch my Camry and buy a Chevy Tahoe "because it has a better suspension, for less bouncing in the car". I was like... uh... what about the rest of his day? But to date, that has been his only recommendation on what changes we should make to help the chances of his healing.
Thirdly, he's a sexist idiot. He told me "I don't have a problem with my female patients limiting their sports activities, because they're not as competitive as men." He also told me that the best exercise "for a woman" is: "walking, no running, no jumping, no impact, and no weights... because women weren't made to do all that man stuff."
I stare daggers at him every time we have to do a follow-up for my husband!!! x(
I already told DH... we're changing doctors as soon as I can find a neurosurgeon that my OTHER GP (whose opinion I respect a great deal) would recommend.
MC
We had a patient with a brain tumor and he had it surgically removed. Well insurance denied his hospital stay b/c they stated it could have been an outpatient procedure!!! What the hell??
My husband had a similar problem, had shoulder pain, his ortho wanted to get an MRI but insurance said no, do PT first. So he did that and his pain got worse, finally got the MRI and he had a huge tear in his rotator cuff that PT could do nothing for. He needed surgery so all those PT copays went down the tubes not to mention the continued pain my husband endured during those worthless weeks of PT.
My husband had a similar problem, had shoulder pain, his ortho wanted to get an MRI but insurance said no, do PT first. So he did that and his pain got worse, finally got the MRI and he had a huge tear in his rotator cuff that PT could do nothing for. He needed surgery so all those PT copays went down the tubes not to mention the continued pain my husband endured during those worthless weeks of PT.
This discussion is timely! My grandfather went to see a doctor today (he usually sees the VA, but can't always get in when he needs to). He was having stomach trouble and the doctor worked him into her schedule. He had to wait while she ran tests and stuff, and eventually she told him see wanted to admit him to the hospital. He didn't want to go, but eventually agreed.
It turns out he actually had a heart attack!!! Luckily, they did a cardiac cath and now he's in the CCU, but they think he's going to be okay. This doctor (who he never met before) went strait from her clinic to the hospital and didn't go home until after 10pm tonight. I'm sure some of her other patients had to wait, but am thankfull she was there for my grandfather.
It turns out he actually had a heart attack!!! Luckily, they did a cardiac cath and now he's in the CCU, but they think he's going to be okay. This doctor (who he never met before) went strait from her clinic to the hospital and didn't go home until after 10pm tonight. I'm sure some of her other patients had to wait, but am thankfull she was there for my grandfather.
gettingstrong
Cathlete
Well, there is no doubt there are dr. who care and sometimes run behind and others that are no good (like everything else). I recently had to take dd to the pediatrician. I had to wait an hour or more. The lady at the desk kept me up to date on how much longer and apologized. There have been occasions when I had to wait in the past , although it is not an "every time thing". But, I don't mind because he takes his time, asks questions and actually LISTENS to what I am saying. I've been seeing him for 15 years and would recommend him to anyone.
There was absolutely no reason for my mom to see her dr. that time though. She is not being treated for anything other than mild hypertension, so I see no reason for a 10 min appt. every 3 mos.
As far as antibiotics - I agree, Pippa, I don't take any unless its absolutely necessary. All 3 kids had tested positive for strep and I was asked extensively about my illness before the meds were called in. I so appreciated this because driving 1 hr, waiting 1 hr. driving back 1 hr then waiting 30 min for the prescription to be filled is no fun when you are sick. An acquantance of mine has a family dr. just as you described - they get antibiotics for anything just by calling.
There was absolutely no reason for my mom to see her dr. that time though. She is not being treated for anything other than mild hypertension, so I see no reason for a 10 min appt. every 3 mos.
As far as antibiotics - I agree, Pippa, I don't take any unless its absolutely necessary. All 3 kids had tested positive for strep and I was asked extensively about my illness before the meds were called in. I so appreciated this because driving 1 hr, waiting 1 hr. driving back 1 hr then waiting 30 min for the prescription to be filled is no fun when you are sick. An acquantance of mine has a family dr. just as you described - they get antibiotics for anything just by calling.
naughtoj
Cathlete
Pippa....totally understand about the insurance companies. I know it wasn't the doc just trying to tick me off, lol. I am just MAD at everyone, LOL I was really just making the point of how horrible it is to get billed after something as traumatic as MC. Rubbing salt in wounds is all. And I did have an exam, but I knew I was going to get a clean bill of health cuz I was recovering well with no complications. But, you are right, better safe than sorry!
Stacy...you made really good points about the docs! You have enlightened me. I realize all you are saying I just wish every now and then I was the patient getting crammed in or had "just a couple more questions". I am just the one getting the shaft, usually. LOLx(
Michelle..the psych appts were not for script refills but just for "check ups". She wants me to come every month regardless just to see how I am doing, even if I am doing fine. That is where I say it is all about making $$$. Sometimes they do schedule you for what seems like NOTHING.
Ok...can't talk about insurance anymore or I will get PO'd....;-)
I was really just making the point of how horrible it is to get billed after something as traumatic as MC. Rubbing salt in wounds is all. And I did have an exam, but I knew I was going to get a clean bill of health cuz I was recovering well with no complications. But, you are right, better safe than sorry!Stacy...you made really good points about the docs! You have enlightened me. I realize all you are saying I just wish every now and then I was the patient getting crammed in or had "just a couple more questions". I am just the one getting the shaft, usually. LOLx(
Michelle..the psych appts were not for script refills but just for "check ups". She wants me to come every month regardless just to see how I am doing, even if I am doing fine. That is where I say it is all about making $$$. Sometimes they do schedule you for what seems like NOTHING.
Ok...can't talk about insurance anymore or I will get PO'd....;-)