I think I should be mad at my Dr.

iVillage Member
Registered: 03-30-2003
I think I should be mad at my Dr.
8
Fri, 10-22-2004 - 7:48pm

So, whenever I call my doc the nurse who takes the message either gets it wrong, or doesn't even get it. I went to the doc earlier this week and expressed my concerns. So I have to make an apointment.

She then handed me this sheet. What it was is a program I can enroll in for $60 year. Basically, it gets me unlimited phone access to questions, refills and such. She said that the $5/month pays for the time it takes for such help.

At first I was offended. I mean, she is my doctor and I pay enough with insurance and co-pays so why should I have to pay extra for some phone support? Then I thought that she probably gets hammered by PPI/Managed care that this helps bridge the gap.

What do you think? Should I be offended?

Ejkdmom Come visit my store: www.leorra.com
iVillage Member
Registered: 04-06-2003
Fri, 10-22-2004 - 11:50pm

I've been going through a lot of crap with my doctor's office lately too. I love my doctor - I've been going to him for 25 years - he is an AWESOME physician, but his staff are idiots. The never get anything right, they are rude, and getting anything done is like pulling teeth. I finally just said "enough is enough" and changed doctors (of course I explained to him why I was leaving, and now his wife (who practices with him) and his entire staff hates me -

 

iVillage Member
Registered: 09-20-2004
Sat, 10-23-2004 - 5:38am
I used to work in a hospital in the ER so i know the system pretty well. First of all what he was offering you i don't even think is legal. 2nd of all you have 100% every right to make a complaint to quality managment. Do you go to a private doctors office?? If you do find out what hospital he has privilages at. There will be someone there in charge of quality managemnt. If they don't have the power to repremand that doctor or his staff, make them find out who does. You might think that no one really gives a damn about how patients are cared for.... especially the nurses not getting messages right, but when you take issues to quality management, it will be another story there will be something done about it i gaurantee it.

hope that helps

~Amanda~

wife to Johnny 3/15/03

mommy to Joey 2/17/04

iVillage Member
Registered: 01-06-2004
Sat, 10-23-2004 - 8:58am
I don't think you should have to pay to speak with your dr.
Seems they are trying to get money any way they can.
I know my dr will call me that same day or night if I need something.


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iVillage Member
Registered: 07-07-2004
Sat, 10-23-2004 - 8:46pm
I agree. But if you're not sure what you want to do, you could call around to other prospective pediatrician practices (ones you could potentially switch to) and ask them if they charge for calls. Plus you'll get a feel for their office staff by phone manner. You might really like the sound of one.

I think you are right to do a satisfaction-check after some negative experiences on this point, because it's an important part of the quality of care you receive when you have kids -- even if you are a low-maintenance kind of mom with lots of dog-eared references, sometimes you just gotta call and ask for judgement. Or advice.

If other dr.s in your area are *not* charging for this so-called extra, then you have a chance to send a message by taking your 'patients' elsewhere (if you don't mind switching -- and that's the 'if' -- what's this Dr. worth to you?). Not sure, but it sounds like this practice might have some 'issues' ... if only office management ones.

Don't feel sorry for the Dr. getting squeezed. The Dr. is running her business and she didn't have any qualms about passing a 'cost' on to you to protect *her* bottom line. You have a right to question whether the market bears that extra expense and to question if that's the best use of your sixty bucks. (Hey, another $60 in the college fund per year can't hurt.:)) Don't bother being offended. Just check around a bit and you'll know what to do.

I thought the suggestion about calling the hospital quality people was good, too.

Cheers,

D.

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iVillage Member
Registered: 08-05-2004
Sat, 10-23-2004 - 9:14pm

OK...I think I

iVillage Member
Registered: 03-30-2003
Sat, 10-23-2004 - 10:39pm
The doctor has never called me.

When I leave a message, sometimes a simple question or for a refill, the nurse takes it and gets the information and calls me back or calls in the prescription.

I have a chronic condition and I call maybe once a month. Sometimes it is as simple as a refill for a medication I have taken forever. Once I asked, on the machine, for the doctor to tell me if it was OK for me to take this herbal suppliment/vitamin combo. I never got an answer and I called twice.

The problem is that this doctor is treating me very well for my condition. I have heard that not all doctors will treat a patient with this kind of care. Some people have gone to as many as 10 doctors until they find one that will help them. So I am loathe to stop going to her.

Ejkdmom Come visit my store: www.leorra.com
iVillage Member
Registered: 08-05-2004
Sun, 10-24-2004 - 8:38am

Are you concerned that you will not get better treatment from another Physician?

iVillage Member
Registered: 05-08-2004
Sun, 10-24-2004 - 2:18pm

I know that when I selected my children's pediatrician that it took me a couple of weeks to find her. I set appointments to interview doctors I was interested in. Then we had an informal discussion(my dh and I) with each doctor. The ones that were huffy about being interviewed were immediately marked off! And after lots of questions to the doctor and staff we made our decision. People need to understand that they are in charge of their healthcare and not the other way around.


You might want to give your doctor another chance and set an appointment with any concerns you have..if you feel they are not taking you seriously then I would look elsewhere.


Good luck to you, hope you find what you need!

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