Waste Of Time

[Roda]

I was really anticipating my 6 month check up yesterday. I really do like the GI doc. Well anyway, I had called my endocrinologist's office to send copies of my lab work I had done on April 3rd and this was after two other requests for copies for myself. I told them that it was very important to fax the most recent labs to the gi doctor. When I got to the GI yesterday they did not have it. The other office faxed labs from Dec.!! Needless to say I was mad. The same thing happened when I had my labs on Dec 5th. It took until the 2nd week in Jan for the doctor to review it and then have the nurse call me. I let it go at that time since it was around the holidays. But this time there is no excuse. I needed a copy of those labs for the GI to know what direction to go as for the iron and vitamin d levels. So all it did was frustrate me. The GI doc did order the antibody tests for me and I will have that done where I work in the next couple of days. They were going to get on the phone and call the other office to see about getting the labs. They told me they would call me in about a week when the antibody tests come back. I know they will follow through, they always have. I like how the endocrinologist has listened to me in the past and has managed my thyroid, but if it takes her around a month to rewiew labs, I think I will find another one. Heaven forbid something was very wrong and needed immediate attention. (not that I think there was, but that's not the point) Sorry for the rant. I just needed to let out some steam.

[mattathayde]

i hate the red tape in the medical field. how ever bad it is to result to it you may need to threaten legal action against them, its your medical records and you have a legal right to have access to it once they do

-matt

[Roda]

i hate the red tape in the medical field. how ever bad it is to result to it you may need to threaten legal action against them, its your medical records and you have a legal right to have access to it once they do

-matt

I made a phone call on Thursday morning to the endocrinologist's office. The secretary could not help me so I got forwarded to the voicemail. I left a message that I would like my labs reviewed by the doc and faxed ASAP to the GI doc. I also said it made an almost pointless appointment for me and I would appreciate if they would call me back on the matter. Needless to say here it is Sunday and noone called me back! I think I will just keep on leaving messages until I annoy them to no end. Maybe I will ask for the office manager and address my concerns also. I am going to call the GI doc also to see if they were sucessful in getting them to fax the results. I was told by the other secretary that if the labs were not reviewd that they would not fax them to anyone. It is just plain bull crap. I know doctors are busy and have other patients, but waiting a month + for results is ridiculous. On a positive note though I had my blood drawn Friday night for my current antibody levels. I will probably find out those by the end of this week.

[mushroom]

These people are not fulfilling their responsibilities to you, and the delay is inexcusable. No wonder you are mad! Yes, keep hounding them by all means.

[Liveenjoylife]

As their patient they have the responsibilities to follow through. Some people want to get paid to work, but not do their job all the while. You have every right to vent. I hope you keep them on their toes.

[ravenwoodglass]

Whether the doctor has reviewed them or not you have a legal right to copies of the labs. Don't call the office, go in person and request that they hand them to you. Then if they still refuse tell them you will be contacting your lawyer.

[mattathayde]

I made a phone call on Thursday morning to the endocrinologist's office. The secretary could not help me so I got forwarded to the voicemail. I left a message that I would like my labs reviewed by the doc and faxed ASAP to the GI doc. I also said it made an almost pointless appointment for me and I would appreciate if they would call me back on the matter. Needless to say here it is Sunday and noone called me back! I think I will just keep on leaving messages until I annoy them to no end. Maybe I will ask for the office manager and address my concerns also. I am going to call the GI doc also to see if they were sucessful in getting them to fax the results. I was told by the other secretary that if the labs were not reviewd that they would not fax them to anyone. It is just plain bull crap. I know doctors are busy and have other patients, but waiting a month + for results is ridiculous. On a positive note though I had my blood drawn Friday night for my current antibody levels. I will probably find out those by the end of this week.

ya i would walk in in person and not leave with out them, just stand at the window blocking any one from checking in because it should take them all of 2 mins to pull your file and photo copy stuff. if they keep giving you crap or you just dont have the time to deal with it get a lawyer friend to call them up and say they are trying to resolve this matter for you, they will know what to say to get your files and if they dont you have an open shut case of malpractice, to the best of my knowledge

-matt

[rumbles]

Had the same kind of issue a couple of years ago when I was in a critical

medical situation (cancer). Since I couldn't make one doctor's office

provide the results to another as quickly as needed, and didn't have the

time or strength to go doctor-to-doctor to pick up and deliver test

results, I found a way to bypass the problem.

I wrote a letter to each of my test providers (labs, x-ray, etc.) instructing

them that from that point forward, all test results were to be sent to the

following doctors, and listed each doctor's information (including phone and

fax). When I went to my next test, I took that letter, plus business cards

for each of the doctors, and gave it to the testing facility, and made

sure that they understood the instructions and were noting my records

accordingly. On each follow up visit, I also remind them that they have

standing instructions from me to provide the test results to multiple doctors.

I advised each doctor personally that I required this, and that they were

to let me know if they had a problem with it, as if they did, it would

mean that I would need to find another doctor.

Since doing this, I've never had a problem with one doctor not having the

other doctor's test results, and I've achieved a higher level of respect from

my doctors, - they know that I am an active participant in what happens to

me, and that ultimately, I am the decision maker.

Cancer teaches many things, - the first is that you are the primary stakeholder

and that you have to step up and take control of directing traffic and decision

making. I learned that it was my medical team, and that I had to take the lead

position, as the outcome would effect me a heck of a lot more than it would

effect any other member of my team.

[Roda]

I think I will try and make some phone calls today. If I can't get anywhere I guess I will have to go there. It is in the next town so it will be about a 40 min drive. Maybe then they will take me seriouslly. I am going to ask around and try and find a new endocrinologist though.

[hermitgirl]

Wow that whole situation is awful. I consider myself lucky that the Dr and GI in my case fax everything the same day between each other, and I don't believe they are on the same network either. My biggest problem is that neither one is listenening to my concerns at this point. I went for my 6 month check last week, told my GI what was going on, pretty much he ignored what I was saying and asked why I was cheating on my diet. I told him I was not that I was aware of, he said that they would run the antibody check just to be sure. Well, I get the phone call Friday, my antibodies show I have been compliant with my diet, and that I am not anemic. So back to square 1.

I would highly suggest you call both offices and speak to the office managers this morning. If you have no results by tomorrow I would go in person. Both sides may be dropping the ball on this but finger pointing.

Why do people in the medical profession feel the need to put power plays on us?

[mattathayde]

Why do people in the medical profession feel the need to put power plays on us?

basically it is because since medicine is privatized thus medical companies and some docs just want to make money and not get sued, there are less docs that come in to the field and just want to help people, or at least that dont get that goal boxed in due to the "we need to make a good profit" or "if you mess up you will get sued". by trying to control their patients they put them selves in a position where the patients dont want to fight back and since the patients dont fight then the medical industry can do what they want.

that being said there are a lot of good people in the industry and some good companies but we can all agree that there is to much BS and corruption

-matt

[Roda]

Wow that whole situation is awful. I consider myself lucky that the Dr and GI in my case fax everything the same day between each other, and I don't believe they are on the same network either. My biggest problem is that neither one is listenening to my concerns at this point. I went for my 6 month check last week, told my GI what was going on, pretty much he ignored what I was saying and asked why I was cheating on my diet. I told him I was not that I was aware of, he said that they would run the antibody check just to be sure. Well, I get the phone call Friday, my antibodies show I have been compliant with my diet, and that I am not anemic. So back to square 1.

I would highly suggest you call both offices and speak to the office managers this morning. If you have no results by tomorrow I would go in person. Both sides may be dropping the ball on this but finger pointing.

Why do people in the medical profession feel the need to put power plays on us?

No the GI doctor's office is good. It is just the endocrinologist office that dropped the ball. I hope they don't do this to others.

[Roda]

Well, finally today I got this whole mess straightened out. I called on Monday and asked to speak to the office manager. I ended up leaving three voice mails and she never called me back. So I called again on Tuesday and asked to speak to someone in administration. I actually spoke to a human being and she referred me to the office nursing supervisor since the office manager was "out". I explained the whole situation to her and she told me that she would check into it and call me back. I told her I would be out for about 1 1/2 hrs so she could reach me after that. Well I get back and she had returned my phone call only 40 min after I spoke with her and did not even leave a message. I called and had to leave a message and did not hear from her the rest of the day. Around 4:30 pm I called and left her another message. She finaly did return my phone call. She said she personally took care of this and had an extensive talk with the staff regarding policies and that the doctor was sincerely sorry. She really could not tell me what exactly happened. Earlier I had asked her to get copies of my medical record ready so I could take it to another provider. She told me she "sincerely" hoped I would reconsider, but they were availaible for me to pick up. Funny thing is I got a call from the GI docs office this afternoon for them to tell me about my labs that they ordered. The nurse proceded to tell me that she also had made several calls about this and complained also. But the real butt kicker is that even though they had my release with the GI docs fax # they still screwed up and who knows where they faxed it on Tues. The nurse had to call today and give them the fax # again. I just gotta laugh at the stupidity.