Is this typical for an ob/gyn (office procedure)?

[yoopermom]

I was sent to see an ob/gyn specialist 2 hrs away. The first appt, he told me, "I was running late today, but I will answer each and every question you have, even if it makes me late for the next person, because I want you to make an informed choice". I respected this. Appt. 2 he was ontime, and did a biopsy that did not hurt AT ALL, which really made me happy.

Cut to appt. 3 (Mon) which was supposed to be at 12:45. I was over halfway there when the dr's office called to say that he had been called to the hospital for an emergency surgery, did I want to call back in awhile to see if I could get in later in the day, or did I want to reschedule. Since I was already on the road, I agreed to call back at 1 pm. Called at 1 pm told no contact from dr, call back at 2. Called at 2, told same thing, call back at 3. Called at 3, told dr. still had not called in, best to reschedule.

It wasn't a wasted day since I got a lot of shopping in, but I was a little surprised that even a specialist such as himself wouldn't have had someone else at the hospital call his office for him and tell them to cancel his appts. Or should his office have just automatically rescheduled me? Believe me, I don't begrudge the poor woman who was undergoing the surgery, I just wonder if this was handled typically/appropriately.

Thanks for your opinion!
Terri

 

[cirquelovers]

I actually had the exact same thing happen a couple of weeks ago, except I only live 30 miles away. They called in the morning to reschedule because the Dr was at an emergency at the hospital. They said to call before I came in and they knew nothing. They wanted me to drive over and hoped she would show up. I didn't go.

I don't know if it's normal but it sure was annoying

 

[yoopermom]

I'm trying to stay positive, because I really liked him at the first two appts, but I am finding it hard to believe that there would be *no* communication between him/the hospital and the clinic about whether or not he would be returning. Even if he couldn't pick up a phone, couldn't he tell someone else to? Or is that just part and parcel of being a specialist? Sigh...

Terri

 

[Imzadi]

Sounds like the surgery was more complicated, once he went in. He probably didn't know how long it was going to take, until he opened up and saw what was going on.

I don't think his office would send someone in just to ask how long he thinks it will take.

 

[yoopermom]

Of course the emergency should be his top priority. I called my DSIL (who is a GP, not a surgeon, but knows quite a few), and she was surprised that the office just didn't automatically reschedule, since surgeries are such an unknown timewise. The office staff did "juggle" to get me rescheduled for a prime spot early next week (which I'm sure required bumping someone else, since his appts. book weeks out in advance).

Terri

 

[Imzadi]

Little joke: my DH calls him "Dr. Top Gun" since he's a little well...cocky. I don't care, as long as he's good at what he does!

Terri

But, does he LOOK like Top Gun?

It might be worth the anticipation of waiting for the next appointment.


Sorry, I edited my other post. I'm a little snarky after what happened on a TV show. My comment wasn't appropriate.

 

[jsmith]

hmm-ob/gyn specallists often care for high risk mothers-while im sympathetic to your incovience-if a doctor is delivering my high risk baby-or doing surgery on me after a high risk delivery-i certainly hope his office not hearing from him-i want his attention on my. im sure the office was following there standard procedure in such instances. I know the OB that delivered my oldest was the one and only in a fairly large geographical area-it was not unheard of for him to have an emergency 40 miles away and the office to have no idea if he would return-they just rescheduled patients.

 

[Hannathy]

If he is in a difficult surgery on myself or my DD or Sister I want him to have his entire mind focused on the procedure he is doing not drifting off to think about having someone calling his office!!!!

If the surgery is going bad or she is crashing on the unit you don't think about anything but the situation at hand. I have been involved in crisises when I worked that 6 or 8 hours later you realize you never went to the bathroom all shift or anything else. You get into like a bubble and the world outside that patient fails to exist.

Specialists are not a dime a dozen there aren't a lot of them and they don't tend to be dealing with things that can be done with half the brain focused on the surgery and the other half thinking of his office or the grocery list.

It happens a lot with specialists and the more prone to emergency calls their specialty is the more it will happen.

I can easily believe there could be no communication with the office.

 

[yoopermom]

But, does he LOOK like Top Gun?

It might be worth the anticipation of waiting for the next appointment.

Don't I wish, no he's got a permed mullet, wears a big gold chain around his neck, and probably dressed like Don Johnson in the 80s . He does listen well, though, and gave my DH props for coming to both appts!

Terri

 

[yoopermom]

Specialists are not a dime a dozen there aren't a lot of them and they don't tend to be dealing with things that can be done with half the brain focused on the surgery and the other half thinking of his office or the grocery list.

It happens a lot with specialists and the more prone to emergency calls their specialty is the more it will happen.

I can easily believe there could be no communication with the office.

Thank you, that's very understandable. I kind of felt like I was "nagging" the office (which I didn't want to do, but they told me when to call back). Like I said, I had a GREAT "sick" day shopping in the big city, so it wasn't time wasted.

Terri

 

[Imzadi]

Terri, I hope things are going to be okay for you, if you have to schedule with a specialist.

 

[chloelovesdisney]

Well, I wouldn't hold it against the doctor. The office manager should have gone ahead and rescheduled his appointments. It's possible the problem he went in for turned out to be much worse than expected and so he was expected back at the office at somepoint but that didn't work out. It's annoying but you got some fun shopping time and hopefully the person he went in to operate on came out okay.

 

[yoopermom]

Thank you Imzadi, that's kind of you. I don't know yet, but am staying positive. Will get the path results of the biopsy at this next appt and have (another) pelvic ultrasound. Hopefully it will be a middle aged problem, and nothing too serious. One thing that I liked that he explained well was about how, it's really cancer in a parent that raises red flags, not necessarily cancer in the grandparents. (Well, he explained it better than that, but you get the drift.) All of my grandparents had lots of cancers, but my parents don't, so fingers crossed...

Terri

 

[design_mom]

I haven't had that happen to me, but we have had a similar thing happen with my son's pediatric ophthalmologist... Twice. His main office is at the children's hospital and if an emergency came in and they needed an ophthalmologist, he was the one they called. While I would have wanted the same care in an emergency, it's frustrating to wait, especially when you've got a little one waiting. We started scheduling our appointments at his satellite office (away from the hospital) and we have not had the same trouble.

 

[chloelovesdisney]

Thank you Imzadi, that's kind of you. I don't know yet, but am staying positive. Will get the path results of the biopsy at this next appt and have (another) pelvic ultrasound. Hopefully it will be a middle aged problem, and nothing too serious. One thing that I liked that he explained well was about how, it's really cancer in a parent that raises red flags, not necessarily cancer in the grandparents. (Well, he explained it better than that, but you get the drift.) All of my grandparents had lots of cancers, but my parents don't, so fingers crossed...

Terri

My doctor told me the same exact thing, grandparents don't raise your risk significantly like your parents having cancer do. All the best.

 

[momof1princess]

OP, i used to work in a doctor's office, and it's not unusual for emergencies to come up, and for them to take much longer than usual. if the case was particularly complicated, i can see how the doctor went so many hours without calling his office. if you like him, don't give up on him. a good OB/GYN can be difficult to find, especially a specialist. i pray things go well for you

 

[yoopermom]

I'm a little snarky after what happened on a TV show. My comment wasn't appropriate.

Don't fret it, but I am curious about the TV show! I have a HUGE respect for everyone in the medical profession, and try to never get frustrated with them, because I see what DB/DSIL go through. I'm a teacher (a profession that gets bashed enough here and in real life) so believe me when I say I didn't start this as a dr. bashing thread....

Terri

 

[yoopermom]

if you like him, don't give up on him. a good OB/GYN can be difficult to find, especially a specialist. i pray things go well for you

Oh, believe you me, I'm not giving up on him! And I appreciate the prayers. My DGM is under hospice care after having three different types of cancers in the past ten years. It's heartbreaking, and makes me commit fully to being as proactive as possible.

Terri

 

[momof1princess]

Oh, believe you me, I'm not giving up on him! And I appreciate the prayers. My DGM is under hospice care after having three different types of cancers in the past ten years. It's heartbreaking, and makes me commit fully to being as proactive as possible.

Terri

how awful for your family, i'm so sorry. if you don't mind, i'll say a prayer for your family and DGM as well.

 

[Imzadi]

Don't fret it, but I am curious about the TV show!

We lost a major character on Criminal Minds, tonight, who's been on the show for 6 years. We're crying on the CM thread, blaming the producers, who wouldn't renew the actor's contract. So, I'm not in the most "understanding" of moods. Sorry it leaked over to a snarky comment for a moment.

Oh, believe you me, I'm not giving up on him! And I appreciate the prayers. My DGM is under hospice care after having three different types of cancers in the past ten years. It's heartbreaking, and makes me commit fully to being as proactive as possible.

Terri

More hugs!