When you get blood work done, does your Doctor call with the results

[Sherri]

even if things were fine?
I had a whole bunch of blood work done on Thursday. This is a new Doctor that I am going to. My old practice would call with the results even if everything is fine.
I just wondered if thats what most Doctors do to touch base with your, or do e they only call if there is a problem?
I am going on the assumption that no news is good news in this case.

 

[Mackey Mouse]

In the past years, I have had one doctor who called with results. What happens recently is they either send out a form letter with results or you have to call and get results yourself..

I just love the way medical profession works now.. NOT And just from experience, I never do no news is good news....I always call to get results if I have not received a letter. Call!!!

 

[lovemygoofy]

I receive something in the mail saying everything is okay or I'm called into the office if something is off. I was told the reason a call isn't placed is because of privacy acts and that only the doctor should talk to you about your test results but I have a hard time imaginging the doctor circling "normal" on 50+ test results everyday and then taping them closed.

 

[Sherri]

In the past years, I have had one doctor who called with results. What happens recently is they either send out a form letter with results or you have to call and get results yourself..

I just love the way medical profession works now.. NOT

Wow! i would hate to get a letter stating that something might be wrong. That seems so impersonal.

 

[LaraK]

You should always request your results. If they don't call you you call them. Mistakes can happen...no one means for them to happen...but they do. You have to be your own advocate and one way to do that is to make sure your results are read and in your chart.

 

[freckles and boo]

Our doctors say they will only call if something is abnormal. The question becomes how long does it take for the doctor to call? How many days before you can relax? My husband had blood drawn and they actually did call with a concern within three days. That was a record for us. If you have any serious concerns I would just call the office and request that the doctor give you a call back at his/her convenience.

 

[Christine]

My GP calls with either normal or abnormal results.

My OB sends a postcard if the results are normal but calls if they are not.

 

[mickeyboat]

My doctor will call if there is something abnormal, otherwise I will get a letter in the mail. I did get a letter to report my bad cholesterol, but I was not concerned because it was not a life or death thing.

Denae

 

[KadysMom]

My doctors office will only call if there are issues

 

[Caropooh]

I had blood work done on Thursday and the doctor was supposed to call with the results this weekend. He even had my cell number since I was going to be across the country. He didn't call. I'm not sure if that's good or bad.

 

[golfgal]

Our old dr would call if something was wrong, send a postcard if everything was ok. Our new clinic has an online service where you can look up your lab/test results, schedule appointments, email your dr, etc. I LOVE this feature!!

 

[Micca]

My doc tells me to call on a specific day and time for results. I'm new to this doctor and he seems semi-retired with a small practice so it's no problem getting him on the line.

 

[tinatark]

Wow - guess this is where living in a small town is good - DH has blood work every 3 mos - he takes a Cholesterol lowering drug - goes by for the work, then has an appointment for a week or so later with the doctor to go over the results.

 

[mommasita]

It depends on why the tests were called for..

My yearly bloodwork through my GP, NO, only if there is something wrong.

I see a hematologist every 6 months, and they ALWAYS call.

 

[PrincessKitty1]

Never, ever assume that no news is good news....too much can be overlooked! For instance, a co-worker (an RN) with a long-term lesion in one lung had yearly CT scans to monitor--one year the CT scan showed a lesion in the OTHER lung...her doctor's office completely missed it because they thought it was the OLD lesion (yeah, they got their lungs mixed up!).

She also thought no news was good news, until she had a lingering cough and went to see her primary care doctor--they reviewed her CT results and she ended up having lung cancer, undiscovered for 6 months after the CT!

None of my doctors ever call with blood test results.

 

[Luv'sTink]

They call with the bad. We can look it up on the web otherwise.

 

[Sherri]

I was tested for lyme and a whole bunch of other things. I feel fine, but since he was testing for lyme and I am new patient he said he would do a whole screening. Lets put it like this, if everything comes out okay I know I am heatlhy because everything under the sun was checked off on my lab script.
- I will call Wednesday if I don't hear.
Thanks for all the responses. Also, that sounds like a great policy to have to ability to check on line.

 

[Christine]

I'm not 100% sure, but I believe the Lyme test takes more than 24 hours (at least it used to). Many of the other tests (CBC, cholesterol, etc) are all done quickly.

Lyme tests are antibody type tests which I think are more complicated. I've had these and other antibody tests and I noticed that, often, the regular labs do not do them and send them out to more specialized labs. These tests generally take more like 3 days to complete. Then they have to get them back to your doctor and he has to read them, etc. I could be wrong--maybe they have gotten faster on the Lyme test. If not, it may take until Tuesday/Wednesday for your doctor to even get them back.

 

[Sherri]

I'm not 100% sure, but I believe the Lyme test takes more than 24 hours (at least it used to). Many of the other tests (CBC, cholesterol, etc) are all done quickly.

Lyme tests are antibody type tests which I think are more complicated. I've had these and other antibody tests and I noticed that, often, the regular labs do not do them and send them out to more specialized labs. These tests generally take more like 3 days to complete. Then they have to get them back to your doctor and he has to read them, etc. I could be wrong--maybe they have gotten faster on the Lyme test. If not, it may take until Tuesday/Wednesday for your doctor to even get them back.

Thanks for the info. Christine.
Also does anyone know if the TSH lab test shows if your pre or menopausal?

 

[Christine]

Thanks for the info. Christine.
Also does anyone know if the TSH lab test shows if your pre or menopausal?

No it does not. It shows your thyroid function.