This is why health care is so high

[LisaInNc]

Here is just one little example of how Doctors abuse health care.

I am in the process of moving so I don't have a family care doctor right now. I have a problem with severe anemia and sometimes need blood tranfusions. I was getting that feeling and I needed my blood to be tested.

I went to a walk in clinic Patient First. They saw me quickly, tested my blood I got the prescription I needed and off I went. They were going to send my blood off for a more detailed analysis.

The next day I get a phone call. The doctor wants me to come back in "to discuss my blood test".

I did.

He said I was severly anemic (yup heard that 2 days ago from your very self) and handed me a referral for a gastro neurologist.

That was it.

He had me go all the way back there for something he could have easily done over the phone. I live an hour away.....The reason.

He gets to bill my health insurance for a follow up visit.

Disgraceful and I don't need the gastro neurologist. I was already cleared by one December I told him that.

I think that is disgraceful. I am writing to the corportate office about the Doctor.

Lisa

 

[Green Tea]

You knew your condition, but maybe another patient wouldn't have. I think the doctor had an obligation to disclose and refer. They have to cover themselves in case of malpractice.

You did not go to your primary care physician who knows you. I think the physician did the right thing.

 

[disneymom06]

Among other reasons, I agree with you on this one. After finally getting an appointment with my primary, (I had already seen the NP, which my insurance does not cover), the doctor tells me that their new policy is NOT to duscuss tests over the phone, that I need to come in for an appointment. WHY?,

 

[eliza61]

Here is just one little example of how Doctors abuse health care.

I am in the process of moving so I don't have a family care doctor right now. I have a problem with severe anemia and sometimes need blood tranfusions. I was getting that feeling and I needed my blood to be tested.

I went to a walk in clinic Patient First. They saw me quickly, tested my blood I got the prescription I needed and off I went. They were going to send my blood off for a more detailed analysis.

The next day I get a phone call. The doctor wants me to come back in "to discuss my blood test".

I did.

He said I was severly anemic (yup heard that 2 days ago from your very self) and handed me a referral for a gastro neurologist.

That was it.

He had me go all the way back there for something he could have easily done over the phone. I live an hour away.....The reason.

He gets to bill my health insurance for a follow up visit.

Disgraceful and I don't need the gastro neurologist. I was already cleared by one December I told him that.

I think that is disgraceful. I am writing to the corportate office about the Doctor.

Lisa

I think it's just a bit of frustration on your part Lisa. Give you doctor the benefit here a little. Some doctors don't discuss lab results over the phone, especially if there is an abnormality. You sound pretty savvy but he/she may have a patience who knows nothing about severe anemic and you can't judge a persons response to the information over the phone.

Not understanding the gstroneurologist referral though.

Anyway our poor health care system is a very multi symptom problem.
Write your letter but try writing it not in an accusatory tone. try writing it like you are seeking information.

You could try something like: Dear Dr. XXX I noticed that was called in for an office visit to get very minor lab results, I think this is a huge waste of resources both the doctors and my own. Is there a reason for this? could in the future I get information over the phone from maybe a Doctors assistant or head nurse?

hang in there.

 

[msmayor]

Among other reasons, I agree with you on this one. After finally getting an appointment with my primary, (I had already seen the NP, which my insurance does not cover), the doctor tells me that their new policy is NOT to duscuss tests over the phone, that I need to come in for an appointment. WHY?,

My guess? Privacy regulations. The only way they can be certain they are talking to the patient is to do it face-to-face. They cannot be certain to protect your privacy by talking over the phone to a 'person' whose identity they cannot verify.

 

[HamTown]

The Patient First physician was covering himself for malpractice by giving you the referral to the gastroenterologist. Most anemia in women comes from two causes: GYN or gastro.

Also, Patient First clinics and other stand alone urgent care centers are completely for profit ventures. They want to make as much money as possible.

FWIW, I have a set of follow up labs scheduled for July to recheck my anemia. I also have to see my PCP a week after to get the results. It's the time to rethink treatment options, so the f/u is pretty standard procedure.

 

[mrsklamc]

I don't think I'll ever understand why this happened...

I had an ultrasound of my thyroid, and I have to make an appointment and come in, so that he could tell me they needed to do another test. (CT scan)

After the CT scan...he calls me and tells me I have cancer on the phone.

 

[mhsjax]

All you need to do is watch TV or look at the billboards. People are sue happy. The lawyers are very quick to tell you Mal Practice.

As far as the Gastro, anemia can be a sign of colon cancer. My father had it and this was the first thing they checked for, I also had it and same thing.

Also to give an example of the way "some" (no flaming please, I have several friends that are attorneys) attorneys work. Hubby is an air traffic controller, he wa dealing with a plane that had some pretty rough weather, The pilot said he checked with the flight attendant and they had maybe 2 or 3 people that didn't have their seatbelt on and they had some minor injuries. By the time the plane landed and unloaded, almost 50 people were claiming bad injuries. Come to find out , there was an attorney on the plane who started telling everyone that they could sue the airline.

I also worked at an OB/GYN for 10 years, a woman tried to sue because she got pregnant after her tubes were tied. pathology even verified that it was fallopian tubes that were cut. She didn't win but obviously, she wanted to.

 

[gregokdisney]

For every one patient like you, complaining he called you in to discuss your results and refer you to a specialist, there will be another patient on here complaining that their doctor told them OVER THE PHONE that there was a problem and they needed to see a specialist. Doctors can't win.

 

[abmitch01]

I'm a nurse and worked for radiation oncology docs. They can talk to patients over the phone with results and a plan. At least in NY they can. Really grim stuff they'd bring the patient in. But this doesn't sound like your case. There is a lot of pressure from ins companies to see so many patients a day.

To me, the ultimate costs of high healthcare are Big Pharma and insurance companies.

 

[LisaInNc]

I know the reason for my anemia. It's been well checked out and documented. I just needed my perscription refilled and get my hemoglobin checked. The doctor did that and told me the results that day. When I saw him the second time there was nothing new to discuss.

He didn't do anything the second time except give me a referral which I didn't need.

I realize that they are for profit. All medical practices are but I really thought that it was stretching things a little to have me go back a second time for just that.

Lisa

 

[abmitch01]

also, I'd go to the gastroenterologist, you could be having a GI bleed somewhere.

 

[Psychodisney]

Don't blame the doctors....blame the insurance companies. The doctor probably gets paid a small portion of what he bills due to contracts with the insurance company.

 

[Butwhyistherumgone?]

I'm a nurse and worked for radiation oncology docs. They can talk to patients over the phone with results and a plan. At least in NY they can. Really grim stuff they'd bring the patient in. But this doesn't sound like your case. There is a lot of pressure from ins companies to see so many patients a day.

To me, the ultimate costs of high healthcare are Big Pharma and insurance companies.

I agree 110%
but nothing will ever be done because they hold too much power

 

[fkj2]

Another consideration is how many people are NOT COMPLIANT with taking their prescribed medications when they're supposed to.

I've started working as a home health nurse, and the number of diabetics who fail to regularly check their blood sugars by glucometer is amazing. Many also feel that as long as their BS is, oh, 300 or less--it's all good. Diabetes is a horrible disease that sneaks up on an individual and inflicts damage before it can be felt. Diabetes alone will add untold $$$ to future health care costs, and many people who are not genetically predisposed will experience the disease because of their diet, obesity, and lack of exercise.

 

[squirrel]

They do that up here also.

Doctors make you come in for the results. Doesn't matter if it's nothing serious. I knew what was wrong with my shoulder. Went and saw my doctor, he wanted an ultrasound on it. I drove into Abbosford (20 min away) to have it done. The results came back and I had to go into the doctors to find out it was calcium build up (which is what I told him the first visit). I spent a total of 2 min if that in the room with him. I spent way more time waiting to see him.

 

[TheRatPack]

LOL, how about this one. My middle son had a lot of test to rule out some disabilities...etc. We went in for a test result, doctor (specialist) said nothing came up and then asked that we come back in 6 months. Umm, for what???? We've had a number of specialist do this to us....even the eye doctor who did a check of his eyes and said nothing was wrong....wants us to come in every 6 months for a year and then yearly after that. Ummm again...for what? The pediatrician can check eyes if there is nothing wrong with them. They just like billing that 10 minute appointment and making me wait an hour for it LOL

 

[Buckeye Princess]

Don't be angry at the doctor, be angry at all the people who sue for ridiculous things because they are greedy.

 

[3boymthr]

I'm a nurse and worked for radiation oncology docs. They can talk to patients over the phone with results and a plan. At least in NY they can. Really grim stuff they'd bring the patient in. But this doesn't sound like your case. There is a lot of pressure from ins companies to see so many patients a day.

To me, the ultimate costs of high healthcare are Big Pharma and insurance companies.

I don't understand the logic where people think that the insurance company is making money on the dr having you come back in to the office.

Big Pharma Yes, But Insurance companies, ummm, nope, not so much.

The more a dr. bills the less profit an insurance company makes. Look at it this way. The insurance co bills a set premium per month per subscriber - say hypothetically, it's $500 so $6,000 per year. The insurance co has a contract to pay the dr. $200 every time you go to see him. So the insurance company gets paid $6,000 whether you go to the dr one time for the whole year (where they then have a profit of $5,800) or go to the dr. 100 times per year; where they loose $14,000 so really it's in the insurance company's best interest for you to not to go to the dr.

Yup, the greedy ones are the providers not the insurance co (and the co I work for has multiple hospitals as clients and I get to see this greed from the other side all the time.)

FWIW - the bulk insurance companies have a desired loss ratio of about 12% but this includes their expenses such as payroll and overhead and most an actual profit margin of less than 5%.

 

[luvthemouse71]

You knew your condition, but maybe another patient wouldn't have. I think the doctor had an obligation to disclose and refer. They have to cover themselves in case of malpractice.

You did not go to your primary care physician who knows you. I think the physician did the right thing.

Yes, unfortunately people are litigious these days. Also, they can't guarantee that the patient is the one they are speaking to on the phone..the whole HIPAA thing makes everyone nervous.

I think the OP is overreacting, frankly. Be thankful that it was nothing serious and move on.