Yes, I did this dance with my neurologist in the past few months. I admit I
have not been going as regularly as I used to (every three to six months).
So when they called and said they were not going to refill my Rebif unless I
came in I was not happy. I managed to convince the nurse to give me a month
refill after I booked an appt.
Then she proceeded to scold me and tell me that I was supposed to return
after my last visit to get the results of an MRI. I got those results over
the phone and a hard copy in the mail and I do not recall being told I had
to come in for them. The standard procedure (in my experience since 98) was
that I get the results over the phone from the nurse unless I want to come
in and discuss them.
Both of my regular nurses are gone and the new one is a ditz.
I had my appt and it was a waste of everyone's time. I had a ton of lab
work and asked that I be called with the results. A week later still no
results, so I called the nurse. She said the blood work was "Fine" or she
would have called me. Again, not the procedure I am used to. I get a call
no matter how Fine or not-so-fine. Its so the patient doesn't have to
wonder! Sheesh!
I asked her to get the results and call me back with the numbers....took
another 4 days. I also asked to have the hard copy mailed to me which I
still do not have come to think of it.
Anyway, I was also dragged in to make some kind of quota or make up for some
revenue loss at the medical center. You know, its the chronic patients who
they bank on. Its the intermittently ill and injured folks that drive up
health care costs. I am like money in the bank for them. They give me a long
appt....20 or is it 25 minutes, I see the doctor for 3 -7 minutes and its
$165 for my insurance company. So you can imagine if I decide on my own to
only go once a year how that can affect the bottom line! Sheesh again.
It seems to me that people go to the doctor for three things, cure,
treatment and care. Lets face it...the first one aint anything I am gonna
get locally any time soon anyway, the second comes in a syringe and all I
need is a piece of paper and the UPS man brings that to my door with a
smile, so that leaves me with CARE. Now that word can mean a lot of things.
And for $165 for 3-7 minutes I should get all the various definitions of the
word.
Did somebody say Sheesh??
Sandy in too hot Wisconsin
----- Original Message -----
From: "Kevin Wolfthal" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
To: <Tmic-list@eskimo.com>
Sent: Friday, June 15, 2007 2:47 AM
Subject: [TMIC] OT: Doctor won't refill medications.
My pharmacist called me the other day to tell me that
my PCP won't refill one of my meds until I make an
appointment. I called the doctor, and the person I
spoke to said it has been too long since my last
appontment. I explained that I have mobility
problems. I asked if they would refill my BP
medication, she got angry and said NO! I asked
if it wasn't dangerous to just stop a Blood Pressure
medication, and she said it is but I still need to
make an appointment. She was rude and hostile.
I agree that I am overdue for an appointment,
but I DON'T agree with these strong arm
tactics. They could at least give me a smaller
refill of my BP med until I can get in there.
Doctors make me sick!
Anyone else have this experience?
Kevin