RAnt about long wait for MRI

[Chris2597]

My ds 19 had an MRI today to get a closer look at some injuries he got in a car accident a month ago. His appt was at 3pm, we got there with a few minutes to spare and was told that they were running a little behind....I asked how much and she said about an hour....hmmmm did they just find this out as we walked in the door, they couldnt call and advise of this development....We are finally in the room and the tech starts the MRI...just when I think we are dont he tells us that the pics of the back didnt take, he tried something else, no it didnt work....He gave up and has put it in the hands of a more experienced tech, but we have to go back tomorrow at 630...We spend 3.5 hours there and still have to go back...I asked if the machine was broken or something was wrong with my sons back that the MRI didnt work,,,,no it is either broken or the tech is off on something...This really stinks....rush hour traffic on a Fri night all the way back over to the imaging center.

 

[luvthatduke]

I understand that you're frustrated,
but I wouldn't expect a call from a medical facility
to "advise (me) of this development."
When, exactly, would they have known that your
test would be one hour behind schedule,
and when should they have called you?
Would you expect a call if there was a 45 minute delay? Or 30?
I always assume I will have to wait whenever I am scheduled for tests.

Regarding the inability to get a good screen of your DS,
I would be thankful that the tech was being careful and
apparently tried his best, which unfortunately didn't work out.
I would be even more thankful that a "more experienced tech"
will be helping your son tomorrow.
I'm sorry you have to return, but back injuries are nothing
to fool around with - especially the diagnosis.
I'm assuming your son is in pain, and I know that can make
waiting and returning for the tests even more frustrating,
but it's much better to have a good "read" than a hasty one.
I hope the more experienced tech will be able to help
your son out tomorrow.

 

[bicker]

This disparity always comes to light when folks try to cast medical professionals as "service" providers. While arguably that's what they are, they operate as if we're providing the service to them, and that they're promised the best service we can offer.

 

[we3disneygo]

It seems that the dr.'s are always a little behind-we took dd11 to the dr. on Tues. and waited over an hour in the lobby , when they finally called her name the nurse was a little rude........... it's not dd's fault they were so busy.........another 20-30 min. to see the dr. she ended up getting her flu shot while we were there.......
hope it all works out

 

[phorsenuf]

Maybe they got behind because they had an emergency. That can certainly happen. Better to be cautious and re-do the tests than have wrong results. Yeah it stinks, but hey it's our kids health and whats more important than that? Bring a book next time just in case.

I'll keep you in my thoughts that the tests turn out fine. Good luck!

 

[bicker]

I'm not sure that an emergency can readily account for this phenomenon, at least not in major metro areas, where emergencies are the norm. This is simply a reflection of the standard of care that we occasion to pay for/that the industry is willing to provide.

 

[Breezy_Carol]

From someone on the medical side, and this is probably not the case with the MRI, managed care has cut the amount of money the provider makes. Sure there are some doctors that really bring it in, but all in all, reimbursement is down. So the provider schedules appointments to give everyone a reasonable visit time then 2 or 3 no show and then he/she can't make payroll. So, he books closer together so that when there is a no show, he can still make do. Of course, people show up 15 minutes late and still expect to me seen so everyone after that is late.

All right, sorry, got off topic. Can you tell this really bugs me?

Anyway, sorry you had to wait.

 

[Nite0wl71]

I know how tiring it is to wait. When my oldest DD was 8 she had a brain tumor and over the years she had numerous MRI's. We have waited for as long as 8 hours because emergencies always come up. We just brought books, watched TV, ate lunch and spent time together.
I never complained because she was an emergency at one time

ETA- When she was in the hospital they gave the in-patients MRI's late at night. At the time Children's only had one MRI (now they have two). Also everyone's test is different so the times are different. My DD's took about 90 minutes. The time we waited the longest they couldn't get the little boy to sleep so that put everyone behind. Also if they find something they take more images then planned.