VENT: Doctor's office staff

[I loveStitchnippyjon]

Background: in 2000 DH fell off a ladder at home and smashed up his leg and ankle. 6 surgeries, bone grafts, the whole shebang. Now it is really bothering him again with pain and altered gait, so he made an appointment with a new ortho surgeon on the recommendation of an acquaintance. (Original Dr. is long gone and maybe deceased, but new Dr. is in that same medical practice).
My problem is that he was told that the new Dr. can obtain his old x-rays, but DH needs to obtain the old Dr's office notes and bring them with him to the appointment! How the heck is he going to do that when the guy left town 8 years ago? And it's the same freaking group practice, so why can't they do it? If they don't have the records there how do we locate them? We have no idea how to proceed, so DH will most likely go to his appointment empty handed.
Does this make sense to anyone?

 

[Bob NC]

I would tell the Doctors office the same thing you told us.

I don't really know any other way to proceed.

My guess is it won't be a big deal.

 

[Tozzie]

Background: in 2000 DH fell off a ladder at home and smashed up his leg and ankle. 6 surgeries, bone grafts, the whole shebang. Now it is really bothering him again with pain and altered gait, so he made an appointment with a new ortho surgeon on the recommendation of an acquaintance. (Original Dr. is long gone and maybe deceased, but new Dr. is in that same medical practice).
My problem is that he was told that the new Dr. can obtain his old x-rays, but DH needs to obtain the old Dr's office notes and bring them with him to the appointment! How the heck is he going to do that when the guy left town 8 years ago? And it's the same freaking group practice, so why can't they do it? If they don't have the records there how do we locate them? We have no idea how to proceed, so DH will most likely go to his appointment empty handed.
Does this make sense to anyone?

Does the office staff of the new doctor know how long it has been since your DH has seen the other doctor?

Doctors aren't required to keep records for longer than 6 years after last seeing the patient, at least where I live, so even if you could locate the doctor chances are he wouldn't have the records anyway.

 

[The Mystery Machine]

Background: in 2000 DH fell off a ladder at home and smashed up his leg and ankle. 6 surgeries, bone grafts, the whole shebang. Now it is really bothering him again with pain and altered gait, so he made an appointment with a new ortho surgeon on the recommendation of an acquaintance. (Original Dr. is long gone and maybe deceased, but new Dr. is in that same medical practice).
My problem is that he was told that the new Dr. can obtain his old x-rays, but DH needs to obtain the old Dr's office notes and bring them with him to the appointment! How the heck is he going to do that when the guy left town 8 years ago? And it's the same freaking group practice, so why can't they do it? If they don't have the records there how do we locate them? We have no idea how to proceed, so DH will most likely go to his appointment empty handed.
Does this make sense to anyone?

Going there empty handed is OK imo. I mean you can't produce them out of thin air.

 

[I loveStitchnippyjon]

Going there empty handed is OK imo. I mean you can't produce them out of thin air.

That's pretty much how I feel! If any records still exist, they can access them before DH can, so it just seems like they can't be bothered. Sooooo, neither can we!

 

[minnie mum]

Perhaps I'm missing something here. Did you or your DH mention to the office staff that his original doctor had been a member of that practice? Did either of you ask them how to go about finding the records? Were they aware of how many years had elapsed since the original injury or the last visit with the original doctor?

 

[WDSearcher]

Background: in 2000 DH fell off a ladder at home and smashed up his leg and ankle. 6 surgeries, bone grafts, the whole shebang. Now it is really bothering him again with pain and altered gait, so he made an appointment with a new ortho surgeon on the recommendation of an acquaintance. (Original Dr. is long gone and maybe deceased, but new Dr. is in that same medical practice).
My problem is that he was told that the new Dr. can obtain his old x-rays, but DH needs to obtain the old Dr's office notes and bring them with him to the appointment! How the heck is he going to do that when the guy left town 8 years ago? And it's the same freaking group practice, so why can't they do it? If they don't have the records there how do we locate them? We have no idea how to proceed, so DH will most likely go to his appointment empty handed.
Does this make sense to anyone?

Did you actually talk to anyone at the new dr's practice, or are you this angry and agitated simply because they asked you to bring the records?

If you spoke with them, told them you couldn't get the records, and they are continuing to tell you that you have to have them or the appot can't happen, that's one thing.

But if they told you to obtain the office notes and that's the extent of the communication you've had with them, then you seem to be really really mad about something that doesn't seem to be that big of a deal.

 

[I loveStitchnippyjon]

Perhaps I'm missing something here. Did you or your DH mention to the office staff that his original doctor had been a member of that practice? Did either of you ask them how to go about finding the records? Were they aware of how many years had elapsed since the original injury or the last visit with the original doctor?

Yes, yes, and yes. I'm seriously considering cancelling this appointment just because of the office staff's attitude. They say that they will make no effort to do anything aside from getting the x-rays. We should "TRACK DOWN THE DOCTOR".

 

[I loveStitchnippyjon]

Did you actually talk to anyone at the new dr's practice, or are you this angry and agitated simply because they asked you to bring the records?

If you spoke with them, told them you couldn't get the records, and they are continuing to tell you that you have to have them or the appot can't happen, that's one thing.

But if they told you to obtain the office notes and that's the extent of the communication you've had with them, then you seem to be really really mad about something that doesn't seem to be that big of a deal.

They said they need the office notes at the appointment and we should track down the doctor. Never said they wouldn't see him without, because they must know it's impossible. I told them that I haven't a clue as to how, and just got a "well, try".

 

[Sadie22]

Hint to others: Obtain your medical records as things occur. At the very least, get records before your doctor goes elsewhere. With increasing use of electronic medical records, this may become less necessary, but for the present it is the duty of the patient to maintain his or her own medical history.

OP: Unless this doctor has a very common name, an Internet search may help you find him. There are various databases of physicians. You can also go through your state's medical licensing board. Politely ask for their assistance and advice. You should also contact the hospitals where the surgeries took place for any records they have maintained. Your medical insurance may also be able to assist you.